The Wakefields: A Patriotic Scottsville Family
by James Richard Wakefield, Schuyler, VA
Zachary, Larry, Mary, Dean, and Dick Wakefield
Mary Ann Wakefield with her sons, Zachary, Larry, Dean, and Dick (L to R)

Mrs. Mary Ann Stepp Wakefield was a wonderful, patriotic, and hard-working mother, who loved her eight children: Zachary Taylor, Dean L., Donna Ruth, Larry Willard, Mary Lou, James Richard, Anne Lillian, and Virginia Alice Wakefield.  The Wakefields lived on a farm off Route 6 and west of Scottsville.  Six of her children served in the U.S. military.

Zachary Wakefield graduated from Scottsville High School about 1936 or 1937 and received a B.S. in chemistry from the University of Virginia in 1942.  He joined the U.S. Navy in 1943 as an aviator during World War II and flew Torpedo Bombers in the Asiatic-Pacific theater.  After WWII, Zachary became a member of the Naval Reserve and flew out of Millington Naval Air Force Base in Memphis, Tennessee, for many years.  He attained the rank of Captain and retired from the U.S. Naval Reserve in July 1974.  Capt. Wakefield worked for the Tennessee Valley Authority from 1946 - 1985 and retired as Chief of fundamental research.

Dean Wakefield graduated from Scottsville High School about 1940 and served in the U.S. Army during World War II.  He was wounded during the Normandy D-Day invasion, fought through France and Belgium, and was later wounded a second time.

Larry Wakefield left Scottsville High School at the early age of seventeen and joined the Merchant Marines.  He sailed on the famous Liberty ships through the U-boat infested North Atlantic waters to take supplies to U.S. troops and Allies in Europe.  Larry later earned his G.E.D. diploma much to the satisfaction of his mother.  Larry later served in the 82nd Airborne as a paratrooper during the Korean conflict.

James Richard Wakefield graduated from Scottsville High School in 1950 and served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean conflict.  After retiring, James and his wife, Linda, moved to his beloved boyhood farm near Schuyler, VA.

Zachary, Dean, Larry, and James Wakefield all drove a school bus while attending Scottsville High School.

In addition to her four sons described above, Mrs. Wakefield had two daughters, who served in the U.S. military:  Donna Ruth Wakefield graduated from Scottsville High School about 1940.  She served in the WACS during World War II.  Mary Lou Wakefield graduated from Scottsville High School about 1945.  She served in the WAVES during the Korean conflict.