Tabb Thornton Farinholt, 88, beloved mother, teacher, counselor and grammarian, died peacefully in Richmond on Thursday, March 26, 2026. Tabb was predeceased by her husband of 57 years, Harvey Blair Farinholt, and her much-admired and ardent supporter, sister Mary Moylan (Mimi) Oppenheimer. She was born in Richmond in 1937 and was the daughter of the late Jane Douthat Riddle Thornton and Barbour Newman Thornton.
Tabb is survived by her two children: son, Bart and his wife Ida, and daughter, Mary Blair Denious. She leaves behind six cherished grandchildren, Bart Farinholt (Cara), Blair Farinholt (Audrey), Ida LaBeau (Timmy) and Stewart, Sam and Jack Denious. In addition, her two great-grandsons, Bo and Blair Farinholt, delighted her during her last days bouncing on and off her bed and scrambling around her room.
Tabb spent her formative years growing up on Grove Avenue in the Fan and attending Collegiate School (Town School) on Monument Avenue. Camp Allegheny in West Virginia filled her summers with great joy and lifelong friendships. While on a boat ride in the North River with friends the summer after her freshman year at Collegiate, the motor stalled and to the rescue were two river rats–brothers, Jimmy and Blair Farinholt. And thus began a 65-year love affair with Blair.
After majoring in religion and philosophy at Sweet Briar College, she ventured to Johns Hopkins University to earn a Master of Art in Teaching in English. In 1960, Tabb and Blair were married and happily taught and coached at the Collegiate School for four years. In 1964, they moved to Gloucester with a young son and a daughter on the way.
In Gloucester, she continued her teaching career and became actively involved in the Garden Club and the Daffodil Show. She taught English for the next 40 years in Gloucester schools, at Hampton Roads Academy, Norfolk Academy and St. Catherine’s. In her nine years at Norfolk Academy, she was the Director of Admissions and College Counseling. Her final teaching assignment at St. Catherine’s was really special as she worked side by side in the English department with her sister Mimi. As a teacher, she always saw the best in her students and did her all to bring it out.
Tabb was a prolific letter writer and fierce grammarian. Every letter or email sent her way was delivered with trepidation.
Tabb loved to tend to her garden on the Ware River, listen to classical music, sing in the choir at Ware Church, play tennis, swim, knit, read, write and use multisyllabic SAT words.
Above all, Tabb was a devoted and wholehearted supporter of her children and grandchildren—fully engaged in all parts of our lives. Traveling to or streaming all our games—many of which we only watched from the sidelines as well. Through all of this, Tabb and Blair became close with our friends.
The last very special chapter of her life was in Richmond at Cedarfield close to her family and old friends. Despite her physical challenges, her time there was truly a gift. The love, care, friendship and support bestowed upon Tabb and her family by residents, nurses, staff and administration were truly uplifting.
A service in celebration of Tabb’s life will be held on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at 2 p.m. at Ware Episcopal Church in Gloucester, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Collegiate School, St. Catherine’s School or the Garden Club of Gloucester and Mathews.