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Virginia mom encouraging discussions about mental health after son’s suicide

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Virginia mom encouraging discussions about mental health after son’s suicide


It’s been almost three years since an Alexandria mother was plunged into sudden grief after learning her 21-year-old had taken his life by suicide. His death came just hours after he’d texted his mom that he was doing awesome.

Now, Betsy Stephenson has written a book about her family’s journey with grief and what she calls “life after suicide.”

She does not hold back when she talks about son Charlie’s death by suicide on July 10, 2022.

“To me, that was one of the objectives of the book. I’m going to lay it all out,” she said.

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Charlie was found by a roommate in the home they shared in Fort Worth, Texas, where Charlie attended Texas Christian University. His older sisters rushed home to Alexandria, where the family gathered after the heartbreaking news.

“The first decision we made: Are we going to be forthcoming about cause of death?” Stephenson said. “It was a quick and unanimous decision, and yet I don’t think at the time we realized how momentous it was for all of us.”

In her book, “Blackbird,” and during author talks, Stephenson explains how that decision to share the cause of Charlie’s death shaped their grief journey in crucial ways. They also shared that he’d suffered from depression.

“First of all, it relieved us of the burden of the secrecy that often comes with suicide,” Stephenson said. “We also realized over time it helped our community support us … because they didn’t have to dance around it either.”

Her unvarnished reflections started with a Facebook post, and readers responded.

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“People were messaging and saying, ‘Yeah, you know, I lost someone to suicide, too, but we don’t talk about it’,” Stephenson said.

Writing her book became a way to untangle her questions and emotions: How could her seemingly happy child die this way?

Stephenson points to a text exchange just hours before his death, in which she wrote: “Good night bub. Hope you’re doing great. Love you.”

Charlie responded: “I’m doing awesome. Love you good night.”

“Yes, it’s terrifying to think you can text your son on a Saturday night who says ‘I’m doing great, love you,’ and then the next morning he’s dead. It’s terrifying,” Stephenson said. “I don’t want to scare people, but to me, that is the perfect example of why depression and anxiety are so sneaky and powerful.”

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In addition to exposing the dangers depression presents, Stephenson also wanted to explore how to confront  and live with immense grief.

I really looked at grief and considered it a job. I’m going to undertake this … This is a part of who I am. It will be with me forever. How am I going to live with  it? How am I going to put myself back together?

Betsy Stephenson

Her greatest hope in detailing her experience is that it will encourage conversation about mental illness, suicide and grief, and possibly save another family from the loss her family suffered.



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Two dead after I-495 road rage incident leads to stabbing, Virginia State Police shooting – WTOP News

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Two dead after I-495 road rage incident leads to stabbing, Virginia State Police shooting – WTOP News


A road rage incident led to a shooting involving the Virginia State Police on Sunday on Interstate 495. Four individuals were also stabbed.

Two people are dead Sunday in Annandale, Virginia, after a road rage incident led to a shooting involving Virginia State Police on Interstate 495.

A release issued by the Virginia State Police said a trooper fatally shot a man after responding to a report of a road rage incident on the southbound lanes of I-495 just before 1:30 p.m. at exit 52, near the Little River Turnpike.

The man, transferred to a hospital with serious injuries, has been pronounced dead. VSP said the trooper shot in self-defense after the man confronted him with a knife.

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The trooper did not suffer any injuries during the altercation.

Officials found four stabbing victims at the scene, but only identified a 39-year-old woman and a dog. Both the woman and the dog died.

Early findings suggest the stabbings took place after a crash on the Capital Beltway. The crash remains under investigation.

The VSP’s release comes after the main lanes of the Capital Beltway Outer Loop, before Little River Turnpike, were closed to traffic for several hours, only recently opening the express lanes. Main lanes between Arlington Boulevard and the Little River Turnpike remain closed.

Stay with WTOP for the latest developments.

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© 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.



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Virginia Huffman Obituary February 27, 2026 – Ott & Lee Funeral Homes

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Virginia Huffman Obituary February 27, 2026 – Ott & Lee Funeral Homes


Mary “Virginia” Huffman, 82, of Pelahatchie, Mississippi, passed away on February 27, 2026.

Born on February 28, 1943, in Morton, Mississippi, she was the daughter of Carl and Nannie Mae Bradshaw. She married the love of her life, Jimmy Lavell Huffman, on June 14, 1963, and together they built a life rooted in faith, family, and hard work. Virginia devoted nearly 50 years to teaching high school math, beginning at Morton High School and later serving at East Rankin Academy. Generations of students were shaped by her steady guidance, high expectations, and deep belief in their potential. Many would say they entered college prepared because they had learned from “Mrs. Huffman.” Her students knew the famous “Mrs. Huffman look,” but no one understood it quite like her children and grandchildren. To many, she was more than a teacher—she was a mentor, encourager, and second mother.

A faithful member of Cross Roads Baptist Church, Virginia was a true matriarch and prayer warrior whose life was anchored in her love for the Lord. She woke each morning to study the Word of God and carried that faith into every conversation, classroom, and season of life. She played piano and organ, sang in the choir, and on Sunday mornings could often be found at home practicing the piano before church—something her family dearly loved listening to. She served her church and community with quiet devotion. Whether tutoring students during the summer, helping families in need, or visiting church members, she consistently lived out a servant’s heart.

She loved farm life—raising chickens and cows, cutting hay, tending her flower beds, and cooking for the people she loved. She was especially known for her strawberry pies, egg custard, and caramel cake (see Cheryl Moore for the recipe). She faithfully attended her grandchildren’s sporting events and found her greatest joy in cheering on her family. She loved deeply and wholeheartedly, treating not only her own children and grandchildren as treasures, but embracing many others in her community as if they were her own.

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She is survived by her husband, Jimmy Lavell Huffman; her children, Connie Goodman (Mike), Karen Jones, and Jade Huffman; her grandchildren, Christin (Colby) (Candace), Christopher (Victoria), Dillon, Marley, Halle (Elijah), Kyla Kate, and Eli; her great-grandchildren, Autumn, Titus, Sophia, Liam, Scarlett, Luke, and Ava; and her siblings, Paul (Joyce) and Delilah.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Nannie Mae Bradshaw; her in-laws, Clyde Sr. and Zora Huffman; her son, Scot Huffman; and her sisters, May Erving and Maxine Strong.

Virginia will be remembered as a woman of unwavering faith, steadfast strength, and extraordinary love. Her legacy lives on in the family she nurtured, the students she prepared, and the countless lives she covered in prayer.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm – until on Sunday, March 1, 2026 at Cross Roads Baptist Church in Pelahatchie and again on Monday, March 2, 2026 from 12 pm – 1 pm.  

Services will be held at 1pm Monday, March 2, 2026 at Cross Roads Baptist Church with burial in the church cemetery.  

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Bro. John Vaughn, Bro. Gary Morris and Bro. Steven Platt will officate the services.

Pallbearers will be Tim Wolverton, Colby Boyd, Christopher Wilson, Dillon Pettigrew, Eli Huffman and Elijah Moore.

Ott and Lee Funeral Home in Morton is honored to serve the Huffman family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Cross Roads Baptist Church Building Fund.

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Virginia Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 Night results for Feb. 28, 2026

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Virginia Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 Night results for Feb. 28, 2026


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The Virginia Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

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Here’s a look at Feb. 28, 2026, results for each game:

Powerball

Powerball drawings are held Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 11 p.m.

06-20-35-54-65, Powerball: 10, Power Play: 4

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Monday, March 02, 2026

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Pick 3

DAY drawing at 1:59 p.m. NIGHT drawing at 11 p.m. each day.

Night: 1-7-2, FB: 7

Day: 6-6-5, FB: 7

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Pick 4

DAY drawing at 1:59 p.m. NIGHT drawing at 11 p.m. each day.

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Night: 3-0-2-2, FB: 8

Day: 8-2-7-9, FB: 3

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Pick 5

DAY drawing at 1:59 p.m. NIGHT drawing at 11 p.m. each day.

Night: 1-3-5-7-5, FB: 9

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Day: 4-4-7-7-0, FB: 7

Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Cash Pop

Drawing times: Coffee Break 9 a.m.; Lunch Break 12 p.m.; Rush Hour 5 p.m.; Prime Time 9 p.m.; After Hours 11:59 p.m.

Coffee Break: 13

After Hours: 04

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Prime Time: 10

Rush Hour: 02

Lunch Break: 07

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Cash 5

Drawing every day at 11 p.m.

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04-14-16-30-39

Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Bank a Million

Bank a Million draws are held every Wednesday and Saturday at 11 p.m.

02-03-04-05-08-35, Bonus: 14

Check Bank a Million payouts and previous drawings here.

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Millionaire for Life

Drawing everyday at 11:15 p.m.

13-20-28-44-48, Bonus: 04

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Center for Community Journalism (CCJ) editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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