Katherine Helena "Kappy" High

Katherine Helena High, lovingly known as Kappy, 77, passed away peacefully on September 12, 2025, while living in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. 

Originally from Michigan, Kappy later relocated to Roanoke, Virginia, where she built a life, career, and legacy that touched many. She was preceded in death by her beloved son, Aaron High, her mother, Medelia Brumer, her stepfather, George Brumer, her father, John Mahaz, and her stepbrother, Robert Brumer - all of whom she loved deeply and kept close to her heart.

Kappy was a proud graduate of Finney High School in Detroit, Michigan. In a testament to her determination and lifelong love of learning, she graduated from Madonna University in Livonia, Michigan at the age of 60 - a milestone that inspired her family and friends.Kappy was known for her incredible work ethic and used her skills in a variety of fields throughout her life. She worked as a manicurist, a truck driver, and in tax preparation with H&R Block before finding her calling as a Real Estate Agent. In Roanoke, Virginia, she became a highly respected professional, serving on numerous committees with the Roanoke Valley Realtors Association and earning the admiration of colleagues and clients alike.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Kappy was deeply committed to her community. She served on the Lincoln Park School Board in Michigan and was a passionate advocate for children, volunteering with the Michigan Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Program to support abused and neglected children in the welfare system. As a survivor of domestic violence herself, Kappy dedicated her voice to helping others. She lobbied and spoke to members of Congress in Washington, D.C., advocating for the Violence Against Women Act, which passed in 1994 - ensuring greater protections and resources for survivors across the country.

Kappy is survived by her two children, Rick Andrews and Sharyl Hlavaty, as well as her siblings: Joseph and Rhonda Mahaz, Gigi and Robert Strickland, and Carolyn and John Frisk. She was a proud grandmother to Raymond Gray, Dominique Gray, Sean Gray, Kappy-Ann Gray, and Brianna Andrews, and she found great joy in her four great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her Pennsylvania cousins, her beloved nieces and nephews, and her great-nieces and great-nephews - as well as many dear friends who were like family and shared life's journey with her.

Kappy's passion for authentic Syrian food will live on through everyone she taught and cooked for, ensuring her love for gathering, sharing, and celebrating through food continues for generations to come. Kappy will be remembered for her unwavering determination, her compassion for others, and the strength and joy she brought to everyone whose lives she touched.

In memory of her passion for our veterans, memorial donations may be made to https://www.garysinisefondation.org

A Celebration of Life is planned in Roanoke, Virginia, for the middle of November with details to follow.