Reverend Walter Seabury Cavanaugh departed this life on July 25, 2009 at his home in Louisa County, Virginia in the company of his wife Cleolive. Reverend Cavanaugh was born on April 1, 1929 to Walter Woodburn and Grace Howard Cavanaugh in Washington,D.C. He was raised and educated in Palmyra, Virginia. Reverend Cavanaugh received a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Morgan State University. He taught In Virginia Public Schools in Nelson, King and Queen, Fauquier, and Fluvanna Counties. Ever willing to serve, Reverend Cavanaugh joined the US Army - proudly and faithfully serving on the front line in the Korean War. He was an active member of the Alumni Association of Morgan State University and the National Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH).


Reverend Cavanaugh was an active church member most of his life. At an early age, he became a member of Springfield Baptist Church in Louisa, Virginia and later joined County Line Baptist Church in Goochland, Virginia. Later, young Cavanaugh was called to minister the gospel and was ordained at County Line. He served as Senior Pastor of Jerusalem Baptist Church in Mineral, Virginia, St.Thomas Baptist Church in Bumpass, Virginia, and Associate Pastor at Zion Freewill Baptist Church in Washington, DC.

Reverend Cavanaugh's greatest ministry however, was as a devoted husband to his wife Cleolive of 49 years. In fact, during the final moments of his life, the ever-faithful and selfless Cavanaugh prayed for and spoke blessing over his wife.


Reverend Cavanaugh was preceded in death by his parents Walter and Grace (Palmyra), and his younger sister Gracie Cavanaugh Ragland (Louisa); mother in law, Tessie Sutton (Louisa); brother in law C. Ellis Quarles, Jr. (Washington, DC); sisters in law Louise Quarles (Louisa) ,and Lorraine Whitaker (Washington D.C. ).

He is survived by his wife, Cleolive Cavanaugh (Louisa); his brother Charles Cavanaugh (Troy) and Delando B. Cavanaugh (Palmyra); three sisters, Mary C. Howard (Troy), Signora C. Hubert (Troy), and Roberta T. Cavanaugh (Palmyra) and numerous other family and friends.


We express our sincere thanks for the kindnesses of many friends.
May the Lord reward every expression and act of generosity, love, and
good will according to the promise of scripture. For the Lord himself said,
in as much as you did these things [showed kindness] o the least of [them] you also did it
unto him.


Special Thanks to the caregivers at The University Of Virginia Medical Center and The Louisa Healthcare Center.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 1, 2009 at 2 p.m. at County Line Baptist Church, 4070 County Line Road, Kents Store, Virginia 23084 with the Rev. Dr. Joseph Haden officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.