Obituary - Charles Rodney Chapman

Charles Rodney Chapman passed away peacefully on October 17, 2025. He was born on May 10, 1934, at Sheltering Arms Hospital in Richmond, VA. He was preceded in death by his parents Ruth Workman Childress and William Benjamin Chapman and his sister Nancy Chapman Yanchus. He was raised in Richmond by his paternal aunt and uncle, the late Dorothy Chapman Hall and Ernest Duncan Hall. He is preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Jean Lee Anderson Chapman. He is survived by his three daughters, Susan Chapman Reilly of Richmond, VA, Nancy Chapman Tolley (Steven Tolley) of Williamsburg, VA and Mary Chapman Hendrix of Jacksonville, Florida; his grandchildren, Kristen Nicole Doyle, Kelly Ailene Reilly, Sarah Chapman Tolley, Dorothy Jean Reilly, Rebecca Erin Reilly, Pressley Bryce Hendrix, Emma Lane Tolley, Charles “Charlie” Chapman Hendrix, Marshall Anderson Hendrix and his great grand-daughter Mallory Rose Stewart. He is also survived by his two sisters, Linda Lou Piedmont of Aylett, VA and Jonnie Marie Lee of Midlothian, VA. He graduated from John Marshall High School in Richmond, in 1953, before joining the U.S, Marine Corps, serving from 1953-1956. He then attended Richmond College, graduating in 1960 then on to TC Williams School of Law, graduating in 1963. The majority of his career was spent with Henrico County, beginning with the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office in 1968 until his judicial appointment as General District Court Judge in 1990. He served on the bench until his retirement in 2002 and continued to substitute until 2020. Baseball was the love of his life. There was not one statistic or player he did not know. The Phillies were his favorite team of all time however the Reds were a close second. A voracious reader of all things American History, especially the Civil War, WW I and WW II. He was a long time member of Ridge Baptist Church where he served as a Sunday School Teacher and Choir Member. He loved his cats, calling them God’s Creatures, as they provided unconditional companionship. He had a great sense of humor and always loved a good joke. Visitation will be held Wednesday, October 22 from 6-8pm at Bennett Funeral Home, 11020 W. Broad Street, Glen Allen, Va. Funeral Service will be held Thursday, October 23rd at 1:00 pm at Bennett Funeral Home. Interment immediately following the service at Mount Vernon Memorial Park, 11220 Nuckols Road, Glen Allen, VA. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Massey Cancer Center (masseycancercenter.org) or the Henrico Humane Society (henricohumane.org).