Person Page - 3057

     Betty Carolyn Madagan was buried at Sherwood Burial Park, 1045 Lynchburg Turnpike, Salem, Roanoke Co., Virginia.² She was born on January 31, 1930 at Washington, D.C..^1,3 As of December 8, 1950,her married name was Jones.¹ She married Lewis Bernard "Scoot" Jones, son of Arthur Bernard Jones and Mamie Agnes Sowder, on December 8, 1950 at Roanoke, Virginia.¹ Betty Carolyn Madagan died on January 7, 2014 at Virginia at age 83.^3,2 She Betty Carolyn M. Jones, 83, of Roanoke County, born January 1930, joined her husband (Scoot Jones) in the kingdom of Heaven on January 7, 2014. Her relationship with God was shared through her devoted membership of serving Solid Rock Baptist Church for many years. She has always been a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She continues to live on through her children: Bobby Jones, Ellen Eng and husband Ralph; grandchildren and spouses: Travis and Megan Beville and Amber and Jesse Clingenpeel; many step-grandchildren, and step-great-grandchildren. Also surviving, Angie Walton, a close family friend; brother-in-laws Lester and Buck Jones and wife Sarah, Erroll Sult and Gwynn Parry; sister-in-law Marie Jones; and loving pets. She retired from The Asthma & Allergy Center many years ago as a bookkeeper for Dr. MCcausland. She was a dedicated reserve member of Back Creek Fire and Rescue, along with many other women and community groups. Betty spent a large majority of her life helping and aiding to those in need. She enjoyed countless summers camping and partaking in water sports at Smith Mountain Lake. Betty will be remembered by many great friends that she had throughout the surrounding community. Betty's funeral viewing will be held at Oakey's South Chapel in Roanoke on Saturday January 11, 2014 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. The funeral service will also take place at Oakey's South Chapel on Sunday, January 12, 2014 at 2 p.m. A potluck, Fellowship Gathering will be held at Solid Rock Baptist Church directly following the funeral service. On Monday, January 13, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. family and friends will gather at Oakey's South Chapel to follow on to Sherwood Memorial Park, where the graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on January 10, 2014.²

     Her Social Security Number was 223-48-0622.⁴ Virginia Marie "Jennie" Dowdy was buried at Mountain View Memorial Park (also known as Mountain View Burial Park), 5970 Grassy Hill Road, Boones Mill, Franklin Co., Virginia.² Her married name was Sowder.⁵ She married Roman Dillard "Dick" Sowder, son of John Harvey "Brud" Sowder and Mary Catherine Webb.^5,1,2 Virginia Marie "Jennie" Dowdy was born on November 22, 1907 at Virginia.^5,4,2 She died on July 7, 2000 at Virginia at age 92.^1,4,2 She SOWDER, Virginia Dowdy, (Jennie), 92, of Rocky Mount, died Friday, July 7, 2000, at her home. She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas F. and Millie Sigmon Dowdy, and was also preceded in death by her husband, Dick Sowder. Mrs. Sowder was a loving mother and grandmother, and was a faithful servant of God at the Piedmont Presbyterian Church where she was a lifetime member, taught adult Sunday School, was a Bible Leader for the church circle. She was a teacher in the Franklin County Public School System at Callaway. Surviving are two daughters and sons-in-law, Joyce Ann and Joe Ben Jamison of Callaway, and Linda and Roger Barnhart of Boones Mill; one son and daughter-in-law, Donald and Beverly Sowder of Midlothian; her grandchildren, Benjie and Colleen Jamison, Jennifer and Jeff Young, Reid and Cheryl Sowder, Allison and Paul White, Stuart Sowder, Andrea Barnhart, David Barnhart, and Matthew Barnhart; her great-grandchildren, Joshua and Brandon Wood, Joey Jamison, Lynanne Hodges, John Reid, Donna and Ellen Sowder, Trey and Tanner White; also surviving are several sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews; and her special caregivers, Lorine Custer, Edna Bowles, Judy Gantt, Darnell Cowan, Shirley Sink, Carol Sue Underwood, and others who served in the past. Funeral services will be conducted at 4:30 p.m. Sunday following the 150 t h Anniversary Celebration of Piedmont Presbyterian Church. Rev. Richard Slider will officiate. Flowers are welcome, but contributions can be made to the Piedmont Building Fund or Good Samaritan Hospice. Friends may call after 3 p.m. Saturday, with her family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m. at Flora Funeral Service, South Main Street, Rocky Mount. on July 9, 2000.¹

     Joseph Benjamin "Joe Ben" Jamison III was buried at Helms Cemetery, Callaway, Franklin Co., Virginia.^3,4 His Social Security Number was 225-44-0917.⁵ He was born on June 18, 1933 at Callaway, Franklin Co., Virginia.^3,4,5 He married Joyce Ann Sowder, daughter of Roman Dillard "Dick" Sowder and Virginia Marie "Jennie" Dowdy, on December 22, 1954 at Franklin Co., Virginia.^1,2 Joseph Benjamin "Joe Ben" Jamison III died on November 2, 2010 at Callaway, Franklin Co., Virginia, at age 77.^3,4,5 He Joe Ben Jamison, 77, of Callaway, Va., passed away peacefully in the evening hours of Tuesday, November 2, 2010, at home surrounded by his immediate family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe B. and Ella Jamison; his brother, James Richard Jamison; his parents-in-law, Dick and Virginia Sowder; and sister-in-laws, Gay B. Jamison (wife of brother, Charles) and Beverly Sowder (wife of Joyce Ann's brother Donald). Surviving are Joe Ben's loving wife of 55 years, Joyce Ann; son, Ben Jamison and his wife, Colleen; daughter, Jennifer Young and her husband, Jeff; grandchildren, Lynanne Hodges and fiance, Jason Yndestad, Josh Wood and wife, Trisha, Brandon Wood and wife, Julia, Joey Jamison, and Billie Jo Young; great-grandchildren, Ella Grace Wood and Jameson Wood; and brothers, Jerry and wife, Sandra Jamison, and Charles Jamison. Joe Ben was born in Callaway, Va., on June 18, 1933. He graduated from Callaway High School in 1950 and Lynchburg College in 1954. He then enlisted in the United States Navy in 1954 and served until 1958. Upon completion of his tour of duty, he returned to Franklin County, completed his Master's Degree in School Administration from Virginia Tech and subsequently worked as a teacher, counselor, principal and supervisor for 32 years. Joe Ben was a very active and faithful member of Piedmont Presbyterian Church in Callaway, where he served as both a deacon and elder and was Clerk of the Session for many years. He taught Sunday School and directed the Adult Choir, which he continued to sing in during his later years. In 2000, Joe Ben wrote a history of Piedmont Church which was included in a book celebrating the 150th anniversary of the church. He also served in many capacities in the governing body of the Presbyterian Church at the Presbytery level. He chaired, and was a member of several committees, as well as serving as Moderator of the Presbytery for one year. He served as a lay minister at Rocky Mount Presbyterian Church and Belmont Presbyterian Church in Roanoke for several years. Joe Ben was also a charter member of the Callaway Ruritan Club. Among Joe Ben's favorite pastimes and hobbies was his love for growing and working with flowers, reading both fiction and non-fiction novels, playing any type of game, especially bridge, listening to music and dancing, and in his later years, singing with different groups in the community, especially the volunteer singers who performed at Franklin HealthCare. Joe Ben dearly loved spending time with his family, especially his children and grandchildren. The family would like to thank all those people who have loved and supported us during this time of need. Special thanks go out to the support of our brothers and sisters in Christ at Piedmont Church. Also the help and love we received from Anne and David Jamison, Linda Barnhart and the members of Franklin Carilion Hospice will never be forgotten by our family. The Memorial Service for Joe Ben will be held 2 p.m. on Sunday, November 7, 2010, at Piedmont Presbyterian Church followed by inurnment at the Helms Family Cemetery in Callaway. on November 4, 2010.⁴

     Linda Lee Sowder was born on August 22, 1949 at Franklin Co., Virginia.^2,3,4 As of August 31, 1968,her married name was Barnhart.⁴ She married Roger Lee Barnhart on August 31, 1968 at Franklin Co., Virginia.^1,4 Linda Lee Sowder and Roger Lee Barnhart were divorced on March 27, 2002 at Franklin Co., Virginia.⁵ Linda Lee Sowder died on September 16, 2021 at Virginia at age 72.² She Linda Sowder Barnhart was a beloved mother, grandmother, Kindergarten teacher, friend, church and community volunteer who dedicated her life to helping others. She was a woman of deep faith who loved her friends, church members, fellow teachers, janitors, cafeteria workers, bus drivers and teacher assistants as she loved her own family. She was driven by the poem on her kitchen refrigerator that said "Success is not measured in the amount of dollars you make, but the number of lives you impact". Linda passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 16, 2021. She was surrounded by her family and uplifted by numerous prayers from friends and her church families: Antioch Church of the Brethren and her adopted church, Stone Church of the Brethren. She was born on August 22, 1949 in Franklin County to her now deceased mother and father, Virginia and Dick Sowder. She learned her strong work ethic from a young age working on the family farm. She often recounted that she would drive the tractor solo before she could reach the pedals and her dad would hop on and then off to start or stop it while he loaded hay. Her mother was a teacher and instilled into Linda the overarching theme of her life- love of children and being an educator. Linda graduated from Radford University with a bachelor's in early childhood education and went on to get her master's degree in elementary education. She started teaching at Clearbrook Elementary in Roanoke, Va. while balancing her growing family, church responsibilities and supporting the family farm. Later, she decided to pause her career and increase her investment and love of teaching both at home with her young children and with her church family. Linda was an active and faithful member of Antioch Church of the Brethren and was a lifetime Sunday and Bible School teacher and helped launch an after-school program at Antioch called Activity Hour for children. She loved music, singing, and leading the "Joyful Noise" choir of toddlers and little folks for many years. She volunteered at Camp Bethel and led weeklong church camps planning all the activities, devotions, music and logistics. She later became certified with the Cooperative Disaster Child Care Program and went onsite for 10-14 days after natural disasters and provided childcare and support to children while their parents sought FEMA assistance. Linda was selected for the Franklin County School Board in 1982 and served 8 years as a fierce and vocal advocate for both children and ALL school professionals. During her stint on the board, she helped drive the first division-wide volunteer program that formally recruited, trained and structured volunteer assistance for teachers. As her three children got older, Linda went back to her love of teaching Kindergarteners where she spent 20 years as part of the Sontag Elementary family. She received numerous awards and was nominated for state teacher of the year. As she did in all her life, Linda exemplified optimism, hope and grace through her 6-year cancer journey. She never complained but she did jump into action spending every moment with her kids, grandkids, and traveling the world. In her final days, she told her oncologist that she wished every person could be as happy as she was right now. She had the privilege to be supported and cared for by three oncology teams: Blue Ridge Cancer Center in Roanoke, Va., Mercy Hospital in Baltimore, MD and Sibley Hospital in Washington, D.C. Her family is grateful for the loving support and care of all of her doctors and nurses. First and foremost, Linda was a dedicated mother. She treasured her children and was immensely proud of them all. She taught them empathy, kindness, love of service and a value of fairness and equality for all. When she was blessed with four granddaughters later in life, she embraced every moment and split her time living with her kids and grandkids. She was a master potty trainer, storyteller and world's best snuggler. Linda was and will always be the loving and devoted mother of Andrea Barnhart and her spouse Caroleene (Bean) Paul of Darnestown Maryland, David Barnhart and his spouse, Kevin Ford of Washington D.C., and Matthew Barnhart and his spouse, Angela Barnhart of Indian Trail, North Carolina. She is the doting and beloved "Grandma B" to Paityn and Paige Barnhart (5) and "Beebop" to Harper and Amelia (Mia) Ford Barnhart (2). She is also survived by her best friend and sister, Joyce Ann Jamison; her brother, Donald Sowder; and her beloved nieces and nephews. Linda made friends with ease and was supported by so many wonderful and special friends through the years. She loved and treasured each and every one of them. Her family is also especially grateful for the lifelong friendship and connection to the Laprade family. on September 18, 2021.²

     Her Social Security Number was 228-48-1817.⁴ Beverly Vassar Reid was born on July 8, 1936 at Roanoke, Virginia.^1,2,4 As of November 29, 1957,her married name was Sowder.¹ She married Donald Dillard Sowder, son of Roman Dillard "Dick" Sowder and Virginia Marie "Jennie" Dowdy, on November 29, 1957 at Rocky Mount, Franklin Co., Virginia.^1,3 Beverly Vassar Reid died on November 11, 2008 at Georgetown, D.C., at age 72.^4,3 She SOWDER, Beverly Reid, 72, of Midlothian, devoted wife, loving mother, doting grandmother and friend went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, November 11, 2008. She passed away at the Lombardi Cancer Center in the Georgetown University Hospital. Beverly was raised in Rocky Mount, Va., attended Mary Washington College and devoted her life to her family. Beverly is survived by her husband of 51 years, Donald D. Sowder, who represented the Midlothian District on the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors; and her sister, Eleanor Easter of Roanoke. Beverly's spirit lives on in the lives of her children, Reid Sowder of Midlothian, Allison White of Richmond and Stuart Sowder of New York City. Beverly is also survived by her grandchildren, 2nd Lt. John Sowder, Donna Sowder, Trey White, Ellen Sowder, Tanner White, Lucas Sowder-Yuson and Lyla Sowder-Yuson, in addition to many friends and relatives. Beverly's life centered around family, church and community. on November 15, 2008.³

     Lucille Marguerite Leslie was buried at Mountain View Memorial Park (also known as Mountain View Burial Park), 5970 Grassy Hill Road, Boones Mill, Franklin Co., Virginia.⁴ She was born on December 24, 1907 at McKittrick, Montgomery Co., Missouri.^5,4,2 As of December 21, 1933,her married name was Sowder.³ She married Dr. Wilson Thomas Sowder, son of John Harvey "Brud" Sowder and Mary Catherine Webb, on December 21, 1933 at Jackson Co., Missouri.^1,2,3 Lucille Marguerite Leslie died on July 19, 2004 at Jacksonville, Duval Co., Florida, at age 96.^5,4,2 She Lucille Marguerite Leslie Sowder, 96, died peacefully at home on Monday, July 19, 2004. She was born December 24, 1907 in McKittrick, Missouri, the daughter of Dr. James T. and Ella McAfoos Leslie. She had lived in Jacksonville for more than 60 years. Mrs. Sowder is survived by her beloved husband of over 70 years, Dr. Wilson T. Sowder; three children: Dr. W. Thomas Sowder, Jr. (Zoraida) of Fort Lauderdale; Jane Sowder Palmer (Harvey) and James Leslie Sowder (Rita) of Jacksonville; grandchildren: John Riley Sowder, Paul Leslie Sowder (Amanda), Amy Elizabeth Sowder, Kathleen Lucille Palmer Slama (Robert), Laura Leslie Palmer, David Thomas Palmer, Edward Rugg Sowder and Anne Marie Rugg Sowder Chance (Tony); great-grandchildren: Max Charles Rocha, Adam Vincent Slama and Daphne Sowder. She is also survived by two sisters: Leone Leslie MacDougall and Frances Leslie Harrell, one brother, Dr. J.T. Leslie, Jr. (Gloria), and a number of nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her si sters Gladys Leslie and Virginia Lee Leslie Livengood, and her brother, Dr. James Paul Leslie. Mrs. Sowder studied nursing at the Washington University in St. Louis School of Nursing. She received her B.A. from the University of Iowa and her M.A. in Education from the University of Florida. She worked as an R.N. at both St. Vincent's and Hope Haven Children's Hospitals in Jacksonville, and later taught elementary school in the Duval County Public Schools for a number of years. During her retirement years she enjoyed her grandchildren, travel, gardening, reading and helping young children learn to read. She and her family very much appreciated the faithful ministry of her good friend, Mildred Marshall, and of her excellent caregivers: Elizabeth Pettigrew, Phyllis Partridge, Devina Thomas, Debreah Fageol, Ruth Hinkle and Rita Carter. on July 21, 2004.²

     Her married name was Sowder.¹ Zoraida Unknown married Dr. Wilson Thomas Sowder Jr., son of Dr. Wilson Thomas Sowder and Lucille Marguerite Leslie.^1,2 Zoraida Unknown was born on March 10, 1964.³ She died on March 7, 2011 at Florida at age 46.³