About The Chesapeake

At the Chesapeake, nurturing our residents’ minds, bodies and spirits permeates our culture in everything we do. Life at The Chesapeake is about empowering you to chart your own course for retirement. The maintenance-free lifestyle here gives you more time and more freedom, so whatever it is you love to do, you can do it. Remain active in all the community organizations you enjoy, dive deeper into a lifelong hobby, explore a new interest, learn something new, or take advantage of The Chesapeake’s full calendar of activities, trips and social events.

To learn more or to schedule a tour of our beautiful campus, please fill out our request form.

Patriotic potted flowers

Our Heritage

More than 75 years ago, Reverend J. T. Edwards of Culpeper, VA, dreamed of establishing a residential community to care for older adults. His dream was realized in 1945, when the Baptist General Association of Virginia voted to open a senior living community in Culpeper, the very first Virginia Baptist home. Thus Virginia Baptist Homes, now LifeSpire of Virginia, was born. Through the years, our organization has grown to include four faith-based, nonprofit communities: The Culpeper in Culpeper, Lakewood in Richmond, The Glebe in Daleville, and The Chesapeake in Newport News.

Today, LifeSpire of Virginia’s mission is empowering individuals with choices in purposeful living, and our vision is vibrant living where faith, wellness and community flourish. We achieve our mission and vision by adhering to the core values of faith, servant-leadership, stewardship, integrity, peace of mind, innovation and joy. We are an organization rooted in faith whose name is synonymous with exceptional retirement living. Organizationally, we define our faith as “loving God, loving people, and welcoming all.” As such, we welcome people of all faiths, beliefs and traditions.

Located in the heart of the Virginia Peninsula, The Chesapeake, formerly The Newport News Baptist Retirement Community, continues the vision of our founder, Reverend J.T. Edwards, whose dream was to provide residential communities where seniors could enjoy the finest in retirement living. We invite you to experience what makes The Chesapeake such a warm and inviting community.