Virginia Commonwealth Unviersity announces establishment of bereavement fund

By Michael Ford
University News Services

RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia Commonwealth University’s Program in Patient Counseling, in the School of Allied Health Professions, has announced the establishment of an endowed bereavement fund to support families and community education.

The John F. & Jessica P. Loftis Memorial Bereavement Fund has been established by Dr. Deborah Carlton Loftis in memory of her husband, John, and daughter, Jessica, to provide assistance with burial and funeral expenses for bereft families. Dr. Loftis, professor of church music at Baptist Theological Seminary in Richmond, has contributed $10,000 to launch the fund.

The Loftis Memorial Bereavement Fund also will offer grief and bereavement materials for families and staff, as well as community educational programming in the areas of death and dying, grief, and bereavement.

“This gift will enhance our ongoing efforts to provide support, care, and critical information to bereaved families,” said VCU’s Dr. Alexander Tartaglia, chair, patient counseling and director of pastoral care.  “In addition, it will allow us to better meet our obligations to the education of the professionals who serve them.”

                   The Program in Patient Counseling will administer the fund, in cooperation with the MCV Foundation.  The Program in Patient Counseling staffs the Department of Pastoral Care for the VCU Medical Center, providing spiritual and pastoral services to patients and families 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

A native of Falls Church, Va., John F. Loftis earned his undergraduate degree in history from Furman University, Greenville S.C., and earned his master’s and doctoral degrees from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky. From 1988-1993, he served as the first executive director of the Alabama Baptist Historical Commission.  Born in Louisville Ky., Jessica P. Loftis was the only child of John and Deborah Carlton Loftis.