Claire “Lisa” Madison Metcalfe - Cremation Society of Virginia

Claire "Lisa" Madison Metcalfe

February 11, 1943 - July 29, 2023

Claire “Lisa” Madison Metcalfe of Virginia Beach passed away at home on July 29, 2023, in the presence of family. She was 80 years old. She is survived by her husband of 60 years James A. “Jim” Metcalfe, her son Jim (Andrea) Metcalfe, her daughter Megan, grandchildren, Matthew, Adam, and Maya, her brother James (Sharon) Madison, and her sister Jean Trumpy. Lisa was predeceased by her father, Rev. James F. Madison, her mother, Luta Marguerite Madison, her sister Luta “Boots” Hickman, and her Mother-in-law Agnes Ashford Metcalfe Lane.

Lisa was born in Boston, MA, in 1943 and raised in Milton and Holyoke, MA, and Annapolis, MD, where she met her neighbor who became her future husband. Lisa graduated from Hannah More Academy of Reisterstown, MD in 1961 and attended Dickinson College, PA, and Maryland before marrying Jim in December 1963 and moving with him to Florida, Texas, Rhode Island and Virginia as Jim completed Navy flight training and assignments.

While in Rhode Island, Lisa completed her Elementary Education Degree at Rhode Island College. Upon moving to Virginia in 1968, Lisa taught at Baylake Pines and then over 30 years at The Friends School in Virginia Beach, where she was known as “Teacher Lisa.” She also managed for eight years a course “Virginia Divorce Law for Women” for the Hofheimer Ferrebee Law Firm. In addition, she taught Sunday School for nine years at Galilee Episcopal Church.

With their daughter & grandkids in England, Lisa and her husband Jim made frequent trips to Great Britain.

On Saturday August 12, 2023 at 3 PM, a Celebration of Life and inurnment followed by a reception will be held at St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 3201 Edinburgh Dr., Va Beach, VA (see below for Zoom info). In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to Virginia Beach Friends School, 1537 Laskin Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23451, or a charity of your choice.

You may also join on Zoom by CLICKING HERE

Topic: Celebration of Lisa Metcalfe’s life

Time: Aug 12, 2023 03:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Meeting ID: 811 1867 3509; Passcode: ClaireLisa

Another Celebration of Life is planned for Lisa in the future at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church in Annapolis, MD.

Cremation Society of Virginia

Kristyn Brown-Moore

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Jim, Megan, and Jimbo, Thinking of you all today. Lisa was my third grade teacher and I fondly remember playing gin rummy with her at lunch time and her reading to us at the end of the day. Before she started reading, she’d walk around the circle and pick up a leg of each student to see if we were full relaxed. In my adulthood, I’ve reflected on the relaxation lesson and how lucky I was to be receiving it at that age. I also got the chance to get to know Lisa again while I Iived with my parents during Covid. I’m grateful for that opportunity. Holding your family in the light today, Annie

Doris and I want to say how sorry we area] at the passing of Lisa. She was a gracious hostess and understanding friend. She leaves behind a large community of folks who received her kindness and love not to mention her most excellent teaching.

Teacher Lisa was such a wonderful part of VBFS. She cared so much for the staff and the students. Her love and support of Friends School has been a beautiful gift and the many lives she touched leaves a beautiful legacy. She will be missed dearly and her memory will be treasured closely. I hold her family in the light during this difficult time.

Jim, our sincere thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Carleen and Wayne Lombardo

Lisa and her husband Jim have been strong and active members of the Virginia NATO Association (VNA) and we will miss Lisa’s company at our functions. The VNA Board and the association’s members extend their sincere condolences to Jim and the family. Mervyn Wighting President, VNA

Peace of mind is a call away. We’re here when you need us most.

My wife Diane and I have known Lisa and Jim for many years. Lisa was incredibly compassionate and kind. A Saint! And what a wonderful sense of humor. The Rossis of Alexandria, VA, will miss her so. We extend our deepest sympathies to Jim and his family. With sadness, Gene Rossi

A wonderful person and woman...she is already missed. We had the pleasure and blessing to know and care for Lisa for decades. I do not get nervous in doing what I do, but I am ALWAYS nervous in the presence of teachers and educators...will I use the wrong tense??? Will I misspell or mispronounce a word??? Teachers have a way of taking me right back to my elementary school years....but Lisa did not make me feel that way. She often was serious when we were together, but if you hit on the right topic, she had a LAUGH that would lift any soul near her. I LOVED that laugh that revealed her....I will miss that. I love the love story of Lisa and Jim. Sixty years?!?!?!? That is WONDERFUL!!! I was fortunate to witness it and to see it lived out. Jim, it was never more evident than your love and commitment in these last several months when the need was greater than most of us could ever imagine, when so many of us worried, and told you that you needed to care for yourself....but you knew where you were needed. I have always respected and admired you for so many reasons...but your sense of duty is the one that has been in the sight of those who watch you love and care for your dear wife. Thank you for being strong enough to live the example of love within a marriage that has blessed so many of us. Your love, and the love that the two of you shared, has been an amazing gift that you shared, not just between you, but to those of us who have been witness to it. To her dear children and grandchildren....she loved and cared for you all so much. Over the last 20+ years, most of her time with me has been spent sharing all of the wonder that you brought. You were dearly loved, and when appropriate, bragged upon. :-) She will endure in you, branching out from all that she invested into you. Our prayer, love and thoughts are with each one....just as scores of others who love, care for and support you in this terribly difficult time. How richly we have all been blessed to love and to have been loved by Lisa. With deepest sympathy and love, Shelley and Sonny Morrison Mary, Lindsey, Stephanie and Zach

Lisa was such a fun neighbor! I had the privilege of growing up across the street from the Metcalfes. My earliest memory of her is when she came to borrow a copy of our newspaper as she nonchalantly told my mother Jim had been in a plane accident. I think I was four or five. The last time I saw her I think my daughter was about the same age. We had such a good talk. It was like no time had passed. That's how it is with a good neighbor. She was very good to me, I am so grateful to have known her. May she rest in peace.

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.