Barbara “Bobbie” Lee Underwood Chapman, 80, passed away on Sept. 16, 2019. Born on March 1, 1939, she was the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Marvin M. and Mary Elizabeth Hedgepeth Underwood.

She was preceded by her loving husband, Robert R. “Jack” Chapman Jr., and her beloved sister-in-law, Nancy Chapman Davis.

Left to cherish her memory are her devoted children, Robert Randolph Chapman III, Mary Elizabeth Chapman Carden and husband Jesse; grandchildren, Joshua Randolph Brandwein, Elizabeth Rebecca Brandwein Kroll and husband, Joshua; brother, Marvin M. Underwood Jr. and wife, Karen; sister, Mary Anne Underwood Riddick and husband, Larry. She is also survived by Jeanna Simons Chapman and several nieces and nephews and many cousins as well as her faithful and loyal canine companion, Abbie.

Bobbie was very fortunate to have grown up in a loving, tight-knit and deep-rooted Tidewater Virginia family. She spent all of her formative years in the countryside of old Nansemond County learning the ways of a country girl — she was an excellent shot and learned the many secrets of “Mother’s” kitchen, as she was outstanding in cooking. She graduated in 1956 from Chuckatuck High School, where she excelled in the classroom and on the basketball court. She entered the Louise Obici School of Nursing and was a proud member of the Class of ’59, where she was awarded the Obici Hospital Auxiliary Award upon graduation. Bobbie then proceeded to serve Obici Hospital for 45 years in several roles, beginning with staff nurse and ultimately as director of educational services for 28 years.

Always genuinely concerned for the good health and wellness of others and upon retirement, she then served as an adjunct faculty member of PDCCC as a nurse aide instructor. She was instrumental in the early development of Western Tidewater Free Clinic and continued to serve as a volunteer in many capacities. Bobbie served in numerous professional organizations mostly all relating to the training and development of hospital professionals and the general wellness of the citizens of Suffolk and the surrounding counties.

She was a proud and faithful member of Suffolk Christian Church, where she was honored to serve as chairman of the Board of Deacons and as a member of the finance committee.

She served as a den mother for the Cub Scouts of America.

For all her success as a professional and volunteer, her greatest talent was as a wife, mother and friend. Fiercely loyal, non-judgmental and known in the family as the “Big O,” she was a faithful and loving partner to the love of her life, Jack Chapman. She was her children’s most staunch supporter and shared in many ways her loving manner with her keen and wise intellect sprinkled with subtle humor — and was truly their hero of heroes. She loved dearly each and every family member and friend that she had the honor of knowing and was grateful for that friendship.

Finally, her family will be forever grateful for her spirit of good cheer and love and will continue to use the example she set forth each and every day. We will love her forever.

The family would like to thank the women and men of Sentara Obici Hospital and Sentara Norfolk General for the compassionate and excellent care she received over the last few weeks.

A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20, 2019, in Suffolk Christian Church, 216 N. Main St., Suffolk, with the Rev. Michael Halley officiating. Following the service and reception, the burial will be conducted in Cedar Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19, in the R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home and Crematory, Suffolk. Donations may be made to the Western Tidewater Free Clinic or the Obici Healthcare Foundation. Condolences may be registered at RWBakerFH.com.