Vanessa Brumfield Harper

We are heartbroken as we share the loss of our mother, who passed away peacefully in her home on July 28, 2025. She was a devoted wife, cherished daughter, loyal friend, and she fought hard for us all until the very end.

Vanessa Brumfield Harper, of Chesterfield, VA, passed away far too soon, at the age of 60. She was born October 19, 1964, in Richmond, VA, to Kenneth Wayne Brumfield and Cornelia Scott Brumfield. 

Vanessa was preceded in death by her mother, Cornelia Scott Brumfield; and father-in-law, John Harper, Sr. She is survived by her father, Kenneth Wayne Brumfield; her mother-in-law, Shirley Harper; her loving husband, John Harper, Jr.; her three children, Christina Flickinger (Deane), John Harper III, and Summer Clare (Devlyn); three grandchildren, Gunner, Harper, and Dawsyn; her two sisters, Valerie Smith and Vickie Brumfield; and many nieces and nephews. 

Vanessa was a faithful wife for 38 years. She started dating Johnny shortly after high school, and they shared a common love for sports, music, being outdoors, excitement over cool cars and trucks, and each other's energetic spirit. Their lives shifted when Johnny was paralyzed in a car accident at the age of 21, and Vanessa dropped out of college to take care of him. They married the next year and devoted their lives to care for one another, with Christ as the center of their lives and their marriage. 

She was the homemaker who could do it all. She took care of her husband, her three children, tended to every detail of their home both inside and out, and somehow made it look easy. Vanessa hosted every holiday and birthday, she often had more than just her own children running around her home, and cooked every meal that would bring families and friends together. She would frequently find herself as the star of the show at every family gathering, performing karaoke to her favorite country songs. It wasn't the best singing, but it was always a performance we could laugh and remember forever. She created a home for everyone that was filled with love, warmth, and comfort, in every corner and her legacy will live on in the lives that she nurtured. 

Not only did she care for her family, she lived a life of compassion and service dedicating herself wholeheartedly to care for others in need. She would clean houses and take food to elderly friends who could no longer tend to their homes, make baked goods for ministries at churches, and started a caravan taking clothes, shoes, school supplies, and toiletries to impoverished areas of Southwest Virginia. Vanessa would often say the thought of children in need would keep her awake at night, always wishing she could do more.

Somehow, in her limited spare time, she would get up most mornings at 5am and read her bible, go walking with her best friend Tina, have morning phone calls with her sister Vickie, and clean the house, breaking out the vacuum cleaner when she decided it was time for everyone else to start the day. She was a superwoman, and she lived her life with boundless compassion and quiet strength.

Her greatest joy in life was her children and her grandchildren, who were the heart and soul of everything she did. She often said "No one loves their children more than I love mine". She poured all her love into every lunch packed, homemade birthday card, and warm hug she gave, always putting their well-being and happiness before her own.

She had a smile and laugh that could light up every room, a fun and goofy spirit, and her presence was a gift - her absence is a profound loss. Her love and light will live on in every life she touched. We love you forever. 

A funeral service will be held Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at 1pm, at Chester Baptist Church. There will be a private graveside to follow.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Vanessa's favorite charity for the people of Southwest Virginia. Money can be sent to Chester Baptist Church, and please indicate that your donation is for Southwest Virginia.