Person Page - 3058

     Anne Creighton Orange was buried at Washington Memorial Park, 6217 Memorial Drive, Sandston, Henrico Co., Virginia.^5,2 She was born on December 25, 1920 at Charles City Co., Virginia.^2,4 As of October 11, 1944,her married name was Sowder.⁴ She married Judge John Grady Sowder, son of John Harvey "Brud" Sowder and Mary Catherine Webb, on October 11, 1944 at Holdcroft, Charles City Co., Virginia.^1,2,3,4 Anne Creighton Orange died on March 12, 1962 at Providence Forge, New Kent Co., Virginia, at age 41.^2,3 She PROVIDENCE FORGE - Mrs. Anne Orange Sowder, 41, died at her home here Monday night. She was the wife of John G. Sowder, judge of the Charles City and New Kent County Courts. Sowder was a member of the Memorial Methodist Church in Charles City and the Martha Dandridge Woman's Club in New Kent county. Survivors in addition to her husband, are two daughters, Susan Leigh and Catherine Craig Sowder, both of Providence Forge; her mother, Mrs. Ernest E. Orange of Providence Forge; a brother, E. E. Orange Jr. of Providence Forge; and two sisters, Mrs. Malcolm C. Christian of Providence Forge and Mrs. George A. Turkiewicz of Alberquerque. on March 14, 1962.³

     Mabel Louise Redd was buried at Westhampton Memorial Park, 10000 Patterson Avenue, Tuckahoe, Henrico Co., Virginia.⁵ Her Social Security Number was 223-05-7229.³ She was born on September 30, 1917 at Leigh, Prince Edward Co., Virginia.^6,3,4 As of April 5, 1963,her married name was Sowder.⁷ She married Judge John Grady Sowder, son of John Harvey "Brud" Sowder and Mary Catherine Webb, on April 5, 1963 at Henrico Co., Virginia.^1,2,7 Mabel Louise Redd died on October 27, 2005 at Virginia at age 88.⁶ She Sowder, Mrs. Mabel Louise Redd Shipp, of Providence Forge, a retired administrative assistant, wife of John G. Sowder, widow of Waverly Shipp. on October 28, 2005.²

     Eugene Wilson Akers was buried at Franklin Memorial Park, Virgil Goode Highway, Rocky Mount, Franklin Co., Virginia.^3,4 He was born on January 15, 1933 at Franklin Co., Virginia.^2,4 He married Ethel Annie Law circa 1954.^4,3 Eugene Wilson Akers died on August 12, 2014 at age 81.³ He Eugene Wilson Akers, 81, of Rocky Mount, died on Tuesday, August 12, 2014. He was preceded in death by his father, Eugene Wolton Akers; mother, Louise S. Akers; nephew, Danny M. Brooks; sister-in-law, Judy L. Wood; and nieces, Annette Wood and Christie Shively. Eugene is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 60 years, Ethel L. Akers; sister, Nancy A. Rhodes (Dusty) of Penhook; brother, Selma (Duck) and Brenda A. Akers of Franklin County; uncle, James Caroll (Jim) Akers of Roanoke; sisters-in-law, Garnett L. Flora (David), and Martha L. Hubbard (Billie); one of Eugene's best friends, Becky L. Coleman (Rev. Ron); brothers-in-law, Jimmy L. Law (Gail) and Donnie Wood; and many nieces and nephews. Eugene was a charter member of the Rocky Mount First Church of the Brethren. When Eugene started in the milk trucking business he had only one truck. When he retired after 35 years he had a fleet of trucks known as Akers Trucking. With hard work and fair treatment to all, Eugene built a successful business. Eugene was loved by all that knew him. He and Ethel loved to travel in their motor home. They went cross county and visited every state but Alaska. He served his country in the United States Army, where he was stationed in Germany for about a year. Eugene loved and was there for all of his and Ethel's family. Ethel would like to thank Dr. F. Amos, Lynn Wood, Freddie Peters, Pearl Simmons, family, and Carilion Hospice of Franklin County for the loving care given to Eugene. He will be missed. Interment will follow with Military Honors in Franklin Memorial Park. on August 13, 2014.³

     Nancy Lee Akers Nancy Lee Akers Rhodes, 86, died at home on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, in Naples, Florida, after a courageous ten-year battle with Alzheimer's disease. She was born on September 21, 1937, in Rocky Mount, Virginia to Wolton and Louise (Sowder) Akers. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Eugene Akers; sister-in-law, Brenda Akers; and her beloved son, Danny Brooks. Nancy graduated from Franklin County High School in 1955 and after graduation, she spent several years working at Bristol Manufacturing. In the years following her children’s births, Nancy stayed at home and happily raised her family. When her kids were old enough to go to school, she became a beloved teacher's aide at Glade Hill Elementary. In 1973, Nancy began working at Hutcherson & Rhodes Law Firm and in the 26 years that followed, she worked as a paralegal and office manager. Her main job was keeping Dusty in line. In 1997, Nancy and Dusty became snowbirds and began splitting time between Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia and Naples, Florida. In 2017, they moved to Florida full-time. Nancy enjoyed keeping fit by spending hours at The Players Club in Lely. She and Dusty also had a very active social life and enjoyed spending time with friends. After retirement, she once commented that “she did not know how she had ever had time to work-there were just too many other fun things to do instead of working.” Nancy’s greatest joy was spending time with family and friends at their lake house on Smith Mountain Lake and winter home in Naples, Florida. She was at her happiest in the kitchen cooking for her children and grandchildren. Nancy is survived by her devoted husband of 41 years, Ralph B. “Dusty” Rhodes; daughter, Donna (Scott) of Sammamish WA: stepdaughter, Ann (Danny) of Troutville, VA; stepdaughter, Gina (Garrett) of Asheville, NC; brother, Duck Akers; sister-in-law and best friend of more than 70 years, Ethel Akers. Nancy had nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren: Ken Brooks (Katie) of West Liberty, IA; Tim Brooks (Kelly) of Louisville, Kentucky; Logan Cleary of Kirkland, WA; Chase Cleary of Sacramento, CA; Thomas Weaver of Glen Allen, VA; Ellen Weaver of Roanoke, VA; Draper Bender of Delray, FL; Quillen Bender of Delray, FL; and Olivia Bender of Asheville, NC.⁵ She was born on September 21, 1937 at Rocky Mount, Franklin Co., Virginia.^3,4,5 As of November 23, 1955,her married name was Brooks.³ She married Milton Cobbs Brooks on November 23, 1955 at Franklin Co., Virginia.³ Nancy Lee Akers and Milton Cobbs Brooks were divorced on April 6, 1983 at Franklin Co., Virginia.⁴ As of June 20, 1983,her married name was Rhodes.³ Nancy Lee Akers married Ralph Blackford "Dusty" Rhodes on June 20, 1983 at Petersburg, Virginia.^1,3,6,5 Nancy Lee Akers died on July 23, 2024 at Naples, Collier Co., Florida, at age 86.⁵

     Her Social Security Number was 231-62-8265.⁵ Cynthia Ellen Sowder was buried at Mountain View Memorial Park (also known as Mountain View Burial Park), 5970 Grassy Hill Road, Boones Mill, Franklin Co., Virginia.^2,4 She was born on July 11, 1881 at Virginia.^5,2,6,4 As of November 4, 1896,her married name was Jones.¹ She married John Fulton Jones on November 4, 1896 at Franklin Co., Virginia.^1,2,6,3,4 Cynthia Ellen Sowder died on July 11, 1978 at Salem, Roanoke Co., Virginia, at age 97.^2,4

     John Fulton Jones was buried at Mountain View Memorial Park (also known as Mountain View Burial Park), 5970 Grassy Hill Road, Boones Mill, Franklin Co., Virginia.³ He was born on August 16, 1872 at Franklin Co., Virginia; His deatrh certificate has a birth date of Jan 14, 1872.^3,4,5 He married Cynthia Ellen Sowder, daughter of Jacob Sowder and Malinda Helms, on November 4, 1896 at Franklin Co., Virginia.^1,3,4,6,5 John Fulton Jones died on May 31, 1926 at Blackwater, Franklin Co., Virginia, at age 53; His gravestone has a death date of May 30, 1926.^3,5

     Vina Jane "Vinnie" Sowder was buried at R. E. Richards Family Cemetery, Callaway, Franklin Co., Virginia.^2,3 She was born on December 13, 1872 at Virginia.^2,3 As of February 15, 1894,her married name was Richards.² She married Robert Edward Richards on February 15, 1894 at Franklin Co., Virginia.^2,3 Vina Jane "Vinnie" Sowder died on September 6, 1949 at Virginia at age 76.^2,3

     Flora Belle Sowder was buried at Webb Cemetery, Callaway, Franklin Co., Virginia.² She was born on March 4, 1876 at Franklin Co., Virginia.² As of January 10, 1894,her married name was Webb.² She married James Riley Webb Sr. on January 10, 1894 at Franklin Co., Virginia.² Flora Belle Sowder died on November 15, 1958 at Franklin Co., Virginia, at age 82.²