Faye Laverne Anderson Valentin

Faye Laverne Anderson Valentin was born on February 24, 1953, in South Boston, Virginia. She was the second of eight children born to the late William and Ruth Anderson. 

Faye grew up in Abingdon, Virginia. Being the oldest girl, she was often tasked with helping with her younger siblings. She frequently told the funny story of having to take a crying baby brother Andre’ to an appointment where she was stuck on the sidewalk struggling to put Andre’ down with one hand and hold up her skirt with the other.

She graduated from Abingdon High School in 1970 a year early, like her mother. After graduating, Faye attended Virginia State College in Petersburg, Virginia before following in the footsteps of her older brother, William, and joining the United States Navy, where she served as an E3 (Personnelman Seaman) at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. During her time in the Navy, she met and married Luperio Valentin, a Yeoman. She was awarded the National Defense Service Medal. 

Home from the Navy, Faye brought gifts, styling brother Anthony in a spectacular spring ensemble with blue and white shoes that he wore to his Abingdon High School Sports Award Banquet. He is sure some of the awards he received were due to how well he was dressed.

After an honorable Navy discharge, Faye moved to Northwest, Washington, DC. Shortly thereafter, her sister Penny came to live with her and would be her roommate for many years to come – a real-life Laverne and Shirley television show marathon.

Faye continued her education by studying mainframe and computer technology at the Computer Learning Center, which would be the start of a successful career in information technology (IT). Throughout her career, Faye worked at a variety of companies, including Booz Allen, GEICO, and as a federal contractor for the Internal Revenue Service. Faye told many fascinating stories about her professional experiences and the interesting people she encountered. Faye’s success in IT influenced her sister and nephew to obtain degrees and advanced degrees in Computer Science and Information Systems, and a niece, currently pursuing an Information Systems/Cybersecurity degree.

She had an intense love for books and was an avid reader. Faye must have read thousands of books throughout her life. Floor-to-ceiling books were part of the décor in all her homes. You would never see her without a book, especially science-fiction, Greek mythology, and mysteries.

Faye was a true Washingtonian. She and Penny took advantage of the wealth of history and activities DC had to offer, introducing younger sisters, Lisa and Vanessa, to the variety of cultures and festivities that abound. Faye was active in the goings on of DC, including being a key volunteer in Sharon Pratt Dixon’s successful campaign to win the Democratic Party’s mayoral nomination over John Ray, Charlene Drew Jarvis, David Clarke, and Walter Fauntroy - and the general election to become DC’s first black female mayor in 1991. She got youngest sister Vanessa to also volunteer to expose her to the politics of local DC government.

Faye came to know the Lord while attending Lincoln Park United Methodist Church in Capitol Hill, Washington DC. It was there that her love for Christ and books came together as she excitedly joined their Read the Bible in a Year Bible study course.

Faye moved to Maryland, where she spent lots of time with family, especially her brother Antoine and his boys, to which she became more a second mother. Known as a force to be reckoned with, even nephew Alijah as a toddler would say, “Auntie Faye is TOUGH! She was a soldier!”

Faye was knowledgeable of so many subjects, a go-to for answers to any question or to seek advice. She was essentially a resident tutor, as she constantly helped her nieces and nephews with homework, from elementary school through college.

Faye was always a burst of energy. While she, sister Lisa, and nieces, Calissa and Keyana, lived together, Faye was up for any activities they wanted to do. She and Lisa were two peas in a pod, a hilarious duo. Always appreciative of the outdoors, Faye would go hiking and attend live concerts with friends. Faye even ran a 5K, which she really enjoyed.

Faye moved back to Abingdon in October 2023 with sister Penny, a full-circle moment. She found her church home at Abingdon Church of Christ, where she loved Sunday School and Wednesday night Bible study. She really enjoyed the focused study on Grasping God’s Word, a hands-on approach to reading, interpreting, and applying the Bible. Faye loved her church family, who exemplified what it truly means to have one during her health battle.

God called Faye home on June 11, 2024. We thank, praise, and honor God for blessing us with such a phenomenal sister and aunt for as long as he did. Faye was a leader and inspiration to us. We will miss her tremendously.

Faye was preceded in death by her parents, William and Ruth Anderson. She is survived by her four brothers, William Anderson, Anthony (Carmen) Anderson, Antoine Anderson, and Andre’ (Sherrie) Anderson; three sisters, Harriet “Penny” Anderson, Lisa Anderson, and Vanessa Anderson; six nephews, Derrick Anderson, William Kenzell Anderson, Andre’ Anderson Jr, Gabriel Anderson, Joshua Anderson, and Alijah Queen; nine nieces, Aleisha Anderson, Bianca Anderson, Jazmaine Anderson, Madison Anderson, Aleana Anderson, Briana Anderson, Alyssa Anderson, Calissa Berry, and Keyana Berry; two great-nephews, and one great-niece; three double-first cousins, and a host of other relatives and friends.

A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, June 18, 2024, at Abingdon Church of Christ. with Nathan Liddell officiating. Pallbearers will be Derrick Anderson, William Kenzell Anderson, Andre Anderson, Jr., Marcellis Tomlinson, Robert Mitchell, and Joshua Allen. Committal Service will follow at Forest Hills Memory Gardens. 

The family of Faye Valentin is being cared for by Farris Funeral Service and Crematory, Main Street location, 427 E. Main Street, Abingdon, Va 276-623-2700