Person Page - 4191

     Her married name was Hughson.³ Helen M. Stewart married Unknown Hughson.³ Helen M. Stewart was born on June 26, 1907 at Proctor, St. Louis Co., Minnesota.¹

     Mary Stewart was born on October 19, 1915 at Otey, Montgomery Co., Virginia.¹

     Her married name was Hughson.² Margaret Ellen Stewart married Unknown Hughson.² Margaret Ellen Stewart was born on April 19, 1917 at Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.¹

     Gertrude Letitia Mahon was buried at Brookside Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.^3,4 She was born on October 29, 1885 at Rockwood, Manitoba, Canada.² As of August 8, 1931,her married name was Stewart.¹ She married Lewis Edwin Stewart, son of James Ira Stewart and Elizabeth Jane "Eliza" Conner, on August 8, 1931 at Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.^3,1 Gertrude Letitia Mahon died on October 19, 1968 at Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, at age 82.³

     Jesse Vernon Sowder was buried at Blanford Cemetery, 319 South Crater Road, Petersburg, Virginia.^1,3 He was born on September 28, 1893 at Virginia.^1,3 He married Ethel Eugene Stewart, daughter of Lewis Edwin Stewart and Emma Ella Wright, on June 5, 1917 at Montgomery Co., Virginia.^3,2 Jesse Vernon Sowder died on September 25, 1985 at Petersburg, Virginia, at age 91.^1,3

     Her Social Security Number was 230-09-3788.⁴ Jessica Lucille Sowder was buried at Blanford Cemetery, 319 South Crater Road, Petersburg, Virginia.⁸ She was born on August 30, 1918 at Pizarro, Floyd Co., Virginia.^4,8 As of September 21, 1946,her married name was Gipe.³ She married Clarence Grover Gipe on September 21, 1946 at Sutherland, Dinwiddie Co., Virginia.^3,9,5 Jessica Lucille Sowder died on February 5, 2002 at Colonial Heights, Virginia, at age 83.^9,4,8,5 She Jessica Lucille Sowder Gipe, 83, of Dinwiddie County, died Feb. 5, 2002, at Colonial Heights Convalescent Center. Mrs. Gipe was born in Floyd County, Va., a daughter of the late Jesse Vernon and Ethel Stewart Sowder. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Clarence Grover Gipe. She was a former bookkeeper at Martin Oldsmobile-Toyota. Before her illness, she was an active member of Crater Chapter No. 1399 AARP, serving as secretary and tour director. She was a member of Alpha Chapter of the Eastern Star and a long time member of Washington Street United Methodist Church. She is survived by her sister, Geraldine S. Martin and husband, Gilbert C. Martin, of Dinwiddie County; niece, Pamela M. Comstock and husband, John M. Comstock; and a great-nephew, Andrew M. Comstock, all of Colonial Heights. A graveside funeral will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7, 2002, in Blandford Cemetery, with the Rev. Betsy Basehore officiating. The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8 tonight at the J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home, Petersburg. on February 6, 2002.⁵

     Geraldine Anne "Gerry" Sowder was buried at Blanford Cemetery, 319 South Crater Road, Petersburg, Virginia.⁵ She was born on March 27, 1925 at Sutherland, Dinwiddie Co., Virginia.^3,5,6,8 As of April 15, 1944,her married name was Martin.⁴ She married Gilbert Creff Martin on April 15, 1944 at Dinwiddie Co., Virginia.^7,4,9,5,6 Geraldine Anne "Gerry" Sowder died on March 26, 2010 at Colonial Heights, Virginia, at age 84.^5,6,8,10 She Geraldine "Gerry" Sowder Martin, of Colonial Heights, formerly of Dinwiddie County, passed away Friday, March 26, 2010. Born in Sutherland, Va., on March 27, 1925, she was the daughter of the late Jesse Vernon and Ethel Stewart Sowder. She was a lifelong member of Ocran United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday school for many years. In addition to her church, she was active in the community and enjoyed doing volunteer work. She was past president of the Home Builder's Association of Southside Virginia Ladies Auxiliary and a member of the Linden Twig at Southside Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Martin was preceded in death by her sister, Jessica Sowder Gipe. She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Gilbert Creff Martin; her daughter, Pamela Martin Comstock; her son-in-law, John Morris Comstock; and her grandson, Andrew Martin Comstock. The family will receive friends from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 28th at the Petersburg Chapel of J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home & Cremation Service. A graveside funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at Blandford Cemetery with the Rev. Larry House and The Rev. Darwood Rowan officiating. Flowers are welcome or memorial contributions may be made to Ocran United Methodist Church, 20807 Cox Road, Sutherland, VA 23885. on March 27, 2010.⁶

     Clarence Grover Gipe was buried at Blanford Cemetery, 319 South Crater Road, Petersburg, Virginia.^2,3 He was born on February 17, 1892 at Orrstown, Franklin Co., Pennsylvania.^1,2,3 He married Jessica Lucille Sowder, daughter of Jesse Vernon Sowder and Ethel Eugene Stewart, on September 21, 1946 at Sutherland, Dinwiddie Co., Virginia.^1,2,4 Clarence Grover Gipe died on May 14, 1971 at Richmond, Virginia, at age 79.^2,3

     Gilbert Creff Martin was buried at Blanford Cemetery, 319 South Crater Road, Petersburg, Virginia.⁵ He was born on October 23, 1922 at Chesterfield Co., Virginia.^3,5,6,8 He married Geraldine Anne "Gerry" Sowder, daughter of Jesse Vernon Sowder and Ethel Eugene Stewart, on April 15, 1944 at Dinwiddie Co., Virginia.^1,2,5,6,7 Gilbert Creff Martin died on July 31, 2011 at Colonial Heights, Virginia, at age 88.^4,5,6,8 He Gilbert Creff Martin, of Colonial Heights, died Sunday, July 31, 2011. He was born in Chesterfield County, Va. (now Colonial Heights), on Oct. 23, 1922, to the late George Creff and Marinda Aldridge Martin. He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Geraldine "Gerry" Sowder Martin. He was also predeceased by his siblings, Catherine Martin Marks, Barbara Martin Steve and George Franklin Martin. He is survived by his daughter, Pamela Martin Comstock and her husband, John M. Comstock; a grandson, Andrew Martin Comstock; brother-in-law, John H. Steve; sister-in-law, Robbie S. Martin;, and several nieces and nephews. Prior to his return to Colonial Heights, he lived for over 50 years in Dinwiddie County, where he served on the Dinwiddie County School Board for 14 years, serving as chairman for seven of those years. Mr. Martin attended Petersburg High School and was a graduate of Chester High School. He served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II as a captain in the Transportation Corps overseeing conversion of cruise liners and merchant ships into troop transport ships in San Francisco. Shortly after returning home, he opened his own building company. Gilbert C. Martin Company Inc. developed many subdivisions in the Colonial Heights area, including Bennington, Edinborough, Lexington, Burlington and Concord. He also developed subdivisions in Dinwiddie County. While building homes throughout the Tri-Cities area, he was a charter member and two-time president of the Home Builders Association of Southside Virginia. He was also a charter member of the Home Builders Association of Virginia, and until his death, served as a life director and Build-PAC trustee. He was named to the Home Builders Association of Southside Virginia's Hall of Fame in 2002 and to the Home Builders Association of Virginia's Hall of Fame in 2004. Mr. Martin and his brother were in the automobile business together for 40 years as co-owners of Martin Oldsmobile-Toyota in Colonial Heights. He served as president of the Southside Virginia Fair for several years. He was a past president of the Petersburg Lions Club and a member for more than 60 years. He was a member of Dinwiddie Masonic Lodge No. 136 A.F. & A.M., the Petersburg Shrine Club, the ACCA Temple, the Scottish Rite and the Royal Order of Jesters. He was a past president of the Country Club of Petersburg, a member of the Thursday golf group, and a loyal member of POGO. He served on the Board of Directors of Virginia Commonwealth Bank and before that on the Advisory Board of First and Merchants Bank (Bank of America). He was a board member of the Colonial Heights Development Corp.. Gilbert was an avid fisherman who loved to fish the Rappahannock and York rivers, and was a member of the Virginia Yacht Club. He was a longtime fan and supporter of the University of Virginia football and basketball programs. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3, at the Petersburg Chapel of J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home & Cremation Service. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 501 Compton Road, Colonial Heights, VA 23834. Interment with Masonic Rites will follow at Blandford Cemetery, Petersburg. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, c/o ACCA Temple, 1712 Bellevue Ave., Richmond, VA 23277-3920. on August 2, 2011.⁵