SUFFOLK—Constance P. Birdsong passed away on Wednesday, August 17, 2011, in Whitestone, Va.

She was born in Franklin, Va., June 24, 1925.

Over her active lifetime and career, Connie lived in both Whitestone, Va., and Stephenville, Texas.

During her years in Stephenville, Texas, Connie was active in many civic and church related activities. She co-founded the Alcohol and Drug Intervention Council now known as the S.T.A.R. Council of Substance Abuse.

Connie also chaired the Stephenville Chamber of Commerce Cultural Affairs Committee and was the recipient of the Chamber’s Outstanding Merit Award for Cultural Affairs in 1979. In 1982, she received the Ambassador At Large Award.

The cofounder of the Cross Timbers Fine Arts Council, Connie served as the council’s first president for four years and served on the Board of Directors for six years. Connie and Tom Birdsong maintained a life dedication to Cross Timbers Fine Arts Council.

Connie’s lifetime dedication to the arts led to her leadership role as a board member for the Texas Arts Council for six years, serving her last two years as Chairman of the Board. She and her husband, Tom, were founding members of the Texas 200 Club for achievements in the arts, in their community, and the great state of Texas.

Connie and Tom made possible a new Obstetrical Department for Harris Methodist Hospital in Stephenville known as The Birdsong Women’s Center.

In 2009, Connie was also given The Mary Mildred Sullivan Award by Randolph Macon College for her philanthropic work. The award is given to those who possess to an extraordinary degree a spirit of helpfulness and an awareness of the beauty and value of the intangible elements of life.

Connie is survived by her husband of 45 years, Thomas H. Birdsong III; her sister, Emory Ann Peters of Grandy, N.C.; her sons, Elmer A. Bradshaw (Tres) and his wife, Brenda Ward Bradshaw of Greenville, S.C., Richard H. Bradshaw of Virginia Beach, Va., Thomas Henry Birdsong IV (Hank) of Virginia Beach, Va., and Warren Lee Birdsong and his wife, Penny Howell Birdsong, and their two children Japeth Saecker and Christi Saecker Johnson from Smithfield, Va; and her daughter, Virginia Corinne Birdsong Winburn and her husband, William A. Winburn IV and their son Thomas Mills Winburn from Alexandria, Va.

Graveside services will be held at Cedar Hill Cemetery on Saturday, August 20, at 11:30 a.m. The Reverend Dr. Woodie Rae, Director of Spiritual Life at Lake Prince Woods will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the following: Cross Timber Fine Arts Council, Inc., please contact Julie Crouch, P.O. Box 1172, Stephenville, TX, 76401; The First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 173, Stephenville, TX, 76401; or S.T.A.R. Council on Substance Abuse, Stephenville, TX, 76401.

R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family.

Condolences may be registered at www.rwbakerfh.com.