Irma Jefferson Browder Bagby

Irma Jefferson Browder Bagby was lifted to paradise on September 28th, 2024.

She was born in 1941 to James R. and Irma J. Browder in Danville, Va. There she graduated from George Washington High School. "Jeff" accumulated many friends and academic honors. She also played several sports.

Entering Wake Forest College, she dropped her hometown nickname. By the end of her junior year, Irma had earned almost enough credits to graduate and being so loved and respected, she was elected as the reluctant "write-in, Wake Forest Women's President for her coming senior year.

But on July 15, while at her summer job at a Virginia Beach family hotel, Irma started dating a Navy Ensign. Nineteen days later, he proposed marriage to her. It would not be easy. He had orders to report to Pensacola, FL in three days to start flight training. Remarkably, she accepted, but with one stipulation: that they find a church somewhere that would commit to marrying them. Two days later on August 5, 1962, Irma married Ensign James Bagby at a York, SC church. Still in shock family members drove down from Danville and Martinsville, Va to be present.

Ten months later in Pensacola, Irma paused from nightly helping her husband with school, for she then birthed their daughter Josephine Parker Bagby. Two years later, at Naval Air Station Patuxant River, MD was born their second daughter, Carol Kelly Bagby. Thereafter, this family of four lived joyfully in Monterey, CA, back to Virginia Beach, and finally settling in Annapolis, MD. In Monterey, Irma took remotely, the two courses she had lacked to graduate in three years. She received her Wake Forest diploma in 1968.

By 1983 Parker and Kelly had left home. Irma then enrolled in a Community College to study accounting. Her goal was modest: "to get a job as a bookkeeper somewhere, by being overqualified". At completion, she was persuaded by knowledgeable people that, just sitting for the Maryland CPA exam would bolster her resume. So she did. Irma became a local "rockstar" by then actually passing it! The new CPA was soon hired by the U.S. Naval Academy in 1987 as their lead auditor. 

In the same year of 1987, Irma and Jim bought a tiny lot on a mountain lake in western Maryland. She designed a chalet, and they had it built. After she retired from the U.S.N.A. in 1997, they became part-time residents there. Summer boating, winter skiing, and service to Oakland's St. Paul's Church filled their lives. For years, their eight family members cherished exciting, long visits here.

Also, in 1987, her husband inherited a neglected farm on the VA-NC border. Over the next 25 years Irma and Jim commuted five hours on the weekends from wherever they lived, to clean up this farm and beautifully renovate it to become functional. Irma later called it a "different but highly-spiritual experience, especially after Jim got us indoor plumbing" But she admitted that working in an old family cemetery was never on her bucket list.

In 1994, their first grandchild, Jacob Cona, was born to Kelly and Tom. By 1999, Irma and Jim had four. So, they took up half-time residence in Mt. Pleasant, SC. This is where Parkers and Mike's young family lived, and Kelly and Tom's family lived only three hours away. They would begin an intimate relationship with all - one that persists today. For many years, the couple also traveled, gardened, watched sports together, engaged as members of St. Andrews Church and continued commuting to their farm.

Wherever she was, people were drawn to Irma. She was genuinely interested in them. Everyone felt more important after being in her presence. But no one felt this more than her four grandchildren, from infancy to adulthood. Also, many close friends and all family members witnessed her inspiring decision-making. No matter the issue, Irma did the right thing. She walked not by sight, but by faith.

Irma is survived by her loving husband of 62 years, James, her beloved daughters Parker Zalegowski and Kelly Cona (Tom) and Beloved grandchildren, Jacob Cona (Brittney), Nicole Cox (Ryan). Campbell Cona, and Nathan Zalegowski (Alexandra), her beloved sister, Helen B. Cheyney and beloved nephews, David, Bryan, and Stephen (Bridgett) Cheyney, and John Bagby (Heather).  

A memorial service will be held at St. Andrews Church, Ministry Center 440 Whilden Street, Saturday, October 26, 2024 at 4:00 pm. Reception immediately following in Sam's Hall. Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., Mount Pleasant Chapel. 

Any contributions, in lieu of flowers, would be most-appropriate to the American Cancer Society. A memorial message may be sent to the family by visiting our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com.