Surrounded by loved ones, Carden Coleman McGehee, Jr., (1972) died peacefully Thursday evening, September 1, 2016, at Washington Home Family Community Hospice in Washington, D.C. Born in Richmond, Virginia, to Caroline (née Casey) and C. Coleman McGehee on Dec. 31, 1952, Carden attended St. Christopher’s School and later Blue Ridge School.
Carden’s passion for Blue Ridge was exemplified by his nine years of service on the school’s Board of Trustees. After earning an undergraduate degree at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NewYork, Carden returned to Virginia, where he was awarded a Master’s of Architectural History from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. The University had a very special place in Carden’s heart. In addition to two decades of service on the Dean’s Advisory Board of the UVA School of Architecture, Carden was a supporting member of the Dean’s Forum.
A Washingtonian for the past 35 years, Carden was a respected and admired member of the commercial real estate community; his career culminated as Senior Vice President at Transwestern, having worked at CBRE, as well as its predecessor entities, Trammell Crow Company, Insignia/ESG, and Barnes Morris & Pardoe, Inc.
An enthusiastic supporter of the restoration of Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, his family members say they know Carden and Mr. Jefferson are immersed in conversation about Palladian Villas at this very moment. A lifelong Episcopalian, Carden was a loyal and active member of St. Columba’s Episcopal Church, where he served as a head usher for many years, and where he will always be remembered for wearing his Clan MacGregor kilt on Christmas Eve, delighting all in attendance.
Carden is survived by his mother Caroline Yarnall Brandt, his daughters Laura Chase (Adrien de Formigny) and Elizabeth, their mother Kristine Miller McGehee, his partner Leslie Ferst, as well as his brother and sister, Stephen (Ruth) and Margaret McGehee (Anne Owens). A loving father, son, husband, partner and friend, Carden was a true southern gentleman. His charisma, dapper style, gorgeous head of curly black hair and fierce love for his children will always be remembered.
A memorial service will be held at St. Columba’s Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C. on Friday, Sept. 9, at 11am. A committal at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers the family invites you to honor Carden by donating to Poplar Forest, St. Columba’s, the University of Virginia School of Architecture, or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
