Magistrate was noted for an array of talents

Sherman Davis Washington, 39, a respected magistrate in the 24th Judicial Circuit’s Region 2 who sat in Amherst and Nelson counties, died Saturday at Lynchburg General Hospital.

He was the son of Joyce Washington and was preceded in death by his grandfather, Sherman L. Washington, and his great-grandmothers, Lucy S. Davis and Nannie S. Washington.

Washington was a graduate of Villa Maria Academy and Holy Cross Regional High School, Lynchburg, the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, N.Y., and Radford University, Radford. He had worked as a cook for the Virginia School of the Arts in Lynchburg.

His colleagues recalled his dry, funny humor, an insatiable curiosity and his love for his golden Labrador retriever, Buddy.

Washington was fascinated with the classics and literature, classical music and had recently studied Latin.

He was regarded as an effective magistrate because he was said to understand the human condition.

“Sherman had a way of saying what was on his mind and he also, at the same time, carried himself in a way that showed his caring and helpfulness,” his colleagues and family wrote in his obituary.

Sherman had a close-knit family.

Besides his mother, he leaves other family members: his grandmothers, Willie D. Washington and Elizabeth J. Washington; his aunt and uncle, Patricia W. and Eugene A. Parrish; his uncle, Henry Johnson; his great-aunt, Emma D. Barnett; cousins, Jason (Lauren), Gina (David), Lynette (Byron), Darlene (David) and Larry; the “little persons” in his life, Nyia, Aleiya and Alysa; and a host of other relatives.

A funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday at Holy Cross Catholic Church on Clay Street. Interment will be in the Holy Cross Church Cemetery. The family is receiving friends from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Community Funeral Home and other times at the home of his cousin, Gina, 121 Lilydale Lane, Madison Heights. The cortege will assemble at 121 Lilydale Lane.

The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations to charities in Washington’s name be considered.

Condolences may be e-mailed to comfuneral@aol.com. Community Funeral Home is directing.