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Mrs. Louise W. Eggleston
The Legacy Lives
Mrs. Louise Way Eggleston, a well known religious leader and philanthropist in the Norfolk community was born in the Shenandoah Valley, outside Roanoke, Virginia on April 26, 1888. The family relocated to Baltimore, Md where her father was a Methodist minister. In 1902 the family of prominent status with seven children moved to Norfolk where they built a home in Ghent on 20th street. The religious foundation for which would be the guiding principles for Mrs. Eggleston’s life began as a child. Every morning while her mother prepared breakfast, her father had bible study sessions with the children. Mrs. Eggleston stated “it was more important to feed our souls than the physical body.” In addition to religion, education was stressed very highly in the Way household. Mrs. Eggleston was a retired author, religious leader and a teacher. She held a doctor of literature degree from Athens College. Her guiding influence helped create what we know today as Virginia Wesleyan College. In 1967 Va. Wesleyan named one of its first two buildings after Mrs. Eggleston. Additionally, Mrs. Eggleston had close ties and was educated at Ferrum Junior College in the western part of Virginia.
She taught first grade for six years while she and her finance Aubrey L. Eggleston saved money for marriage. Mrs. Eggleston stated “in those days you didn't get married until you could afford to do so. The couple married and built a home behind Blair Junior High School. Mr. Eggleston became a Vice President of what was then known as Virginia National Bank. Later he became the founder with a group of shareholders of a local then statewide investment company. Over the years he and Mrs. Eggleston reared, educated and took care of numerous family members until his death in 1952. The couple had no natural children of their own. After Aubrey’s death Mrs. Eggleston moved to a spacious apartment building on Westover Ave. with her mother and sister (they both died in the 1960’s), she resided there until her death in 1978.
In continuing her legacy of philanthropy, Mrs. Eggleston left gifts to educational and religious organizations. One of the gifts she left was a piece of property located at 20th and Colley Ave. in Norfolk. She bequeathed this gift to Tidewater Vocational Center. In honor of her gift TVC changed its name to The Louise Way Eggleston Center, which is today Eggleston Services.
Mrs. Eggleston traveled the world 16 times, leading prayer groups to missions in Europe, Africa, India and South America. She wrote approximately 40 books and religious pamphlets. Daily she received large bundles of mail tied with strings from all over the world. Mrs. Eggleston stated “almost everyone who reads my books thinks I have a magic wand”. She continues to state “I have had a great life; few women have had the opportunities I’Ave experienced. I do not think of myself as special, just someone who outlasted others”. She was 90 years old at the time of her death; yet her legacy continues today.
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