Amy Noelle Pearson passed away on July 23, 2024 at the UVA University Hospital, due to complications following treatments for Lymphoma. Amy died as she lived, surrounded by family and friends who loved her.

Amy was a caring, down-to-earth person who made strong life-long friendships.  She was a loving mother and was committed to helping others throughout her life. Amy was an avid reader, a cribbage assassin, a big fan of comfy shoes, and had an aversion to cleaning out her car. Though she struggled with illnesses in recent years, she still found the energy to volunteer in the Hampton school system and with community organizations.

Amy was born prematurely on December 24, 1968, in Hampton, VA, a welcome Christmas gift to her parents, Dr. R. John and Joyce Pearson. She grew up in Rhode Island, Connecticut, Ontario Canada, West Virginia, and Virginia, which ignited in her a passion for travel.  Amy was a rambunctious child who channeled her energy into youth swimming – her name was on the record board at the WVU Natatorium long after she stopped competing.

Amy graduated from Kecoughtan High School in Hampton, where she made life-long friends and was a strong student. She earned a spot at the University of Virginia, where she graduated with a BA in Psychology. She was active in Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity and loved her student job as a UVA bus driver, which gave her great stories about driving large buses through the cramped campus. She was a proud Wahoo – no trip to Charlottesville was complete without a trip to Bodo's Bagels or Michie Tavern.

Amy returned to school to get another degree in Physical Therapy at West Viriginia University, graduating Summa Cum Laude.  Amy found she had a real passion for being a PT and helping others to recover from an accident or adapt to changes in their mobility.  One of the truly joyful times of Amy's life was when she was a traveling PT, assisting 27 healthcare facilities in 13 states from Maine to Washington State.

Amy was an amazing mother who put the needs of her child first. As a single parent, she worked hard to provide for Salm and always be a strong advocate. Being a mother led Amy to an even deeper connection with her own mother, who also battled Lymphoma. Amy was also devoted to her five nieces and nephews, going to great lengths to see them and plan fun activities, and to her Team Hedgehog at the Brown household.  Amy was an avid school volunteer who led the PTSA at the school for two years, despite a chronic health condition that had forced her to stop working.

Amy lived life to her fullest ability, always looking for joy in the small things, and thinking of others. Her happy place was the Hallmark Store, where she would search for the perfect card to express her thoughts or make someone else laugh. She has left an Amy-shaped hole in the heart of all who knew and loved her.

The celebration of Amy's too-short life will be at 3 pm on August 24, 2024, at Hilton Presbyterian Church in Newport News VA. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Community Knights,( donate here ), 11817 Canon Blvd Suite 402, Newport News, VA 23606, or perform an intentional act of kindness to honor Amy's legacy.