TCV Staff

TCV Staff

  • Joined: May 26, 2026
  • Articles: 221

Letters from Dogwood – Family recipes

Most families have “family recipes,” something familiar but prepared with a special ingredient or in an unusual way, or it may be a totally unique dish. I have such fond memories of three particular favorite dishes from my childhood—but sadly, I don’t have the recipes. Let me explain.

Blessed Assurance – Change agents

The world is always changing. Each day dawns a new 24-hour period which is different than all the days before, and different from all the days afterward. Weather changes, we age, our health changes (usually in small but measurable ways), our skin sloughs off (at least every 28 days), our hair turns grey and/or thins, our “to-do” list changes with things accomplished crossed off and new things added, the amount of daylight changes and hopefully our knowledge base changes through us getting a bit smarter about life. It’s why I don’t understand someone who looks at me with all seriousness and says, “Nothing ever changes!” or “She is never going to change!” The truth of the matter, as I have detailed above, is that everything changes all the time. Even people change – sometimes not quickly enough or in the way that we might prefer, but people do change. In fact, it is the basis for the belief in a God who can help us to change by loving us into something new and better. Think of how despondent we would feel if we really lived a life in a world that never changed. I can’t imagine anything more awful than that – in fact, I believe that would be one of my definitions of hell.

John Patrick McWilliams

John Patrick “Pat” McWilliams (1949-2026) died at his home in Ruther Glen on August 5, 2026 surrounded by loved ones. He was born in Alexandria on March 8, 1949 to Margaret Gibson McWilliams and John E. McWilliams. After graduating in 1967 from J.E.B. Stuart High School in Annandale, he embarked on a distinguished career with the Arlington County Fire Department, rising quickly through the organization before retiring in 1989 at the senior rank of Station Commander. Pat continued to be active in firefighting all his life, serving at one time as Deputy of Emergency Services in Louisa County. He supported U.S. Forest Service and Virginia Division of Forestry wildfire control missions in numerous capacities — working frontline response on elite “hot shot” teams, progressing through positions of crew chief and engine/dozer boss, and finally capping off his service in the lead role of Incident Commander. He additionally founded and operated McWilliams Wildfire Services (MWS), a family business that provided specialized tactical and disaster mitigation assistance on emergency response efforts nationwide. Pat went on to apply his versatile technical and leadership skills in diverse project management and government positions, serving as both Deputy of Emergency Services and Director of Public Works for Louisa County. But he always remained proudest of his achievements as a first responder and his successes in mentoring the next generation of firefighters — including his daughter, now a 20-year veteran of the Fairfax County Fire Department. His energy, intelligence and legendary gift for storytelling will be missed by his family and many friends. He is survived by his children from his former marriage to Jeanette Cunningham McWilliams (Andy Gray) of Dunnellon, FL: a son, Michael (Tanya) McWilliams of Jupiter, FL; and a daughter, Cheryl McWilliams of Manassas, VA. He further leaves behind a granddaughter, Shelby McWilliams (Rob) Parsons of Lake Mary, FL; a grandson, Ryan McWilliams, of Seattle, WA; great grandsons Theodore and Isaiah McWilliams; step-great grandsons Aiden, Liam, Connor and Dylan Parsons; a sister, Sarah McWilliams of Orange; and his beloved companion, Lorraine Trent of Ruther Glen. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Fellowship Hall of Wright’s Chapel United Methodist Church, 8063 Ladysmith Road, Ruther Glen, VA, between 2:00 and 5:00 pm on Saturday, August 29, 2026. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation at P.O.Drawer 498, Emmitsburg, Maryland 21727 or online at https://www.firehero.org/donate.

Woodward-Vaughan Motor Company

Woodward Vaughan Motor Company was an automotive business in Louisa, Virginia starting in the 1920’s. Staff pictured in this pre-1930s photo are: Jim Poore, Robert Whitlock, Arthur Hallett, Sadie Cosby, Buck Boyd, and Casper Smith.