Obituaries

Sharon Anne Heffington Dearth, 83, departed this life Saturday, December 27, 2025, in Newport News.

She is survived by her son, Edgar III (Sonny) Dearth, sister-in law Kitty Heffington, and cousin Brenda Heffington.

She was an amazing woman who impacted thousands of lives for the better. Growing up on a farm in Newport News and as a member of Temple Baptist Church, she began a lifelong love of animals and was a superior student at Warwick High, enjoying science way more than most girls then were supposed to.

Sharon went to the College of William & Mary, majoring in English but engaging in many incredible discussions about this
world and especially beyond, enjoying a summer as a waitress at a Nags Head restaurant. After graduation, she soon found her niche as an interior decorator, becoming the favorite around Fort Eustis with her excellent work for lower prices. She met Edgar Dearth Jr. in a random encounter, figured he was “the one” and followed him to Heidelberg, Germany, where he was stationed in the Army. They got married in a German castle, and she became expectant. After a long ship ride home, she began a new life as a mom and wife. Ed left the Army and worked in such places as Omaha, Nebraska; Detroit; Rockville, Maryland; and Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Sharon followed him every step of the way and raised young Edgar III, and they settled in the Richmond area in 1972 as Ed got a job as an officer at a savings and loan. There, they and their cats found stability and a wonderful Henrico County school system that she soon became involved in as a mom and volunteer.

When her son Edgar III (Sonny), already a big sports fan at age 8, showed major interest in playing tennis, she went all-in, learning the game as he did. When she was a teacher’s aide at Varina High, and he was in 10th grade, athletic director Tom Doub handed her the boys’ tennis coaching job. Surprised, she made the most of it and more. Basing her philosophy on Vic Braden’s “one more ball over the net,” she grew the sport in Henrico’s East End, teaching dozens of youngsters about a great game as she coached Sonny on the junior circuit and with Varina. Even when he gained a partial scholarship to James Madison University for tennis (and academics, which she also had nurtured), she continued to coach Varina and other eager children, including Leigh and Erin Harcum, whose dad, Dave, had taught Sonny and encouraged him to love the game. Sharon, a well-deserved member of the Varina High Wall of Fame, had a knack for teaching, whether science, English, history, social studies, the SOLs, or tennis, and she continued to do it for the rest of her life. Her example convinced Sonny to follow, as he does to this day as a volunteer and broadcaster at Christopher Newport University.

A stickler for good grammar and a big “Jeopardy!” fan, she enjoyed watching baseball, college basketball (especially North Carolina), tennis, golf, and nature shows. She tutored at-risk high school students until she was 80. Even in her later years, she made special trips to feed the outdoor cats she loved, after feeding the indoor ones for which she cared. She overcame personal tragedy in 2019, when she lost Ed and her beloved younger brother, Terry.

Sharon leaves an incomparable legacy of work ethic and kindness to her family and hundreds of friends.

The family provides countless “thank you” messages to Riverside Regional Medical Center for her care in her final two weeks. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the Peninsula SPCA or the charity of your choice.

A memorial service conducted by Pastor Wes Taylor will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, January 4, at Peninsula Funeral Home in Newport News, followed by a reception.