Born in Iowa, descended from Capt. George Todd of Quantrill's Raiders, raised in New York by wonderful parents, Carol and Larry Seeley, Leila graduated from North High in 1979 then joined the Navy to see the world, originally as a DT, and found me at Quantico because her roommate in the barracks worked for me. First she had Vicki, then decided to go back into the Navy, starting a career in the Reserves that didn't end till she saw the world and retired as a YN1 in 2005 after serving in Operation Desert Storm in 1990-1991 as well as in The Gulf in 2003. She played on the 1984 NAEC Lakehurst Girl's Softball Champion team, had Keith in 1986, and was a busy Mom and dutiful Sailor. Leila was very proud of having finished the Marine Corps Marathon in 1992 and of having been Girl Scout Service Unit cookie manager for three years at Quantico in the early 90s, both of which represented MUCH work. She always dreamed of being a Teacher and finally started college in 1993; progress was slow but she graduated from Grand Rapids Community College in 1998 while serving in the Navy Reserve and as Training Officer of the Grand Rapids Naval Sea Cadet Detachment, and got her B.S. in Education from SUNY Cortland in 2002. From 1998 on till the end she had severe health problems but after surgery in 2002 got better long enough to fulfill all her dreams; with much all night effort she got her M.Ed. from America Intercontinental University in 2005. In the spring of 2006 she finally attained her ambition of becoming a full-time Teacher, and was a fourth grade teacher at C.C. Wells in Chester, VA when the Lord decided it was her time. She got to see two of her grandsons, was a member of the Eastern Star, an alto in the choir at Wesley UMC in Hopewell, VA and had recently been accepted into the Richmond Choral Society. For many years she said that she wanted to one day take her place of honor in Arlington; she got it too soon for us but God needed a good teacher Up Yonder.

(Written by spouse Robert Hufford)

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SEELEY-HUFFORD, Leila June, age 46, of Hopewell, Va., died on Sunday, February 10, 2008. She was born in Iowa City, Iowa, the daughter of Larry E. and Carol Brainard Seeley, who currently reside in Binghamton, N.Y.

Mrs. Hufford was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church and a teacher at C.C. Wells Elementary School in Chester, Va. She was also a retired YN1 with the U.S. Naval Reserves after 24 years of service, and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. Mrs. Hufford was a member of the Richmond Choral Society and choir member at Wesley United Methodist Church.

She is also survived by her husband, Robert C. Hufford; children, Victoria Hufford and Keith Hufford and wife, Rickie, all of Richmond, Va.; two grandchildren, Jacob Gohl and Vincent Hufford; two brothers, and numerous other relatives and friends.

The family will receive friends at the J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Hopewell on Thursday, February 14, 2008. Funeral services will follow on Friday in the Wesley United Methodist Church, Hopewell.

Interment will take place in Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, February 25, 2008.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Wesley United Methodist Church, 2901 Norfolk St., Hopewell, Va. 23860 or to the Confederate Memorial Hall, 929 Camp St. New Orleans, La. 70130.

Published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch on 2/12/2008.

[Great-great-grand-daughter of SGS # 2661 - Leila June; Larry E.; Norman Bryan; William Blackstone; Horace Gibbs (# 2661); Jeduthan/Juduthen (# 975); Ebenezer, David; John; Benjamin; Nathaniel; Robert]

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Contributor: Chase Winchester (50390385)