Person Page - 6607

     Her Social Security Number was 246-32-3977.² Nora Faye Burnette was buried at Bright Hope Cemetery, Mars Hill, Madison Co., North Carolina.⁵ She was born on September 12, 1926 at Madison Co., North Carolina.^2,3,5,4 As of July 22, 1975,her married name was Gowen.¹ She married Marion Winston Gowen, son of Samuel Benjamin Gowen and Helen Estelle Goolsby, on July 22, 1975 at Asheville, Buncombe Co., North Carolina.⁶ Nora Faye Burnette died on April 17, 1988 at Asheville, Buncombe Co., North Carolina, at age 61.^1,6,3,5 She Nora Faye Burnette Gowen, 61, of 87 Monticello Road, Weaverville, died Sunday in an Asheville hospital. A native of Madison County, she had lived in Buncombe County for the past 13 years. She was a former employee of Western Steer Steak House and was a daughter of the late Bertram and Vertie Thomas Bumette. Surviving are her husband, Marion Winston Gowen; two daughters, Pauline Stuckey of Royal Oak, Mich., and Lillian Kate Wilson of Mars Hill; a sister, Bobbie Ann Snelson of Highland Springs, Va; two brothers, Wayne and B.E. Burnette of Mars Hill; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Burial will be in Upper English Cemetery. on April 19, 1988.¹

     Jessie Earl Pippin Jr. was buried at Gowen-Goolsby Cemetery, Shipman, Nelson Co., Virginia.¹ He Jesse Earl Pippin, Jr. 44 of Orange, Virginia passed away Friday, February 26, 2016 at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg, Virginia. He had fought a long battle of illnesses, so God reached down from heaven with his mercy and took Jesse home. Born January 7, 1972 in Manassas to Mildred Gowen Pippin Vance and the late Jesse Earl Pippin, Sr. He is survived by his mother, Mildred Vance and Stepfather, Okey Vance of Rhoadesville; two brothers, Richard Pippin (Peggy Bettis) of Nokesville and Jack Pippin (Liz Stofflet) of Muncie, Indiana; two sisters, Gladys Ridgeway (Bill) of Orange and Donna Cornwell (Mike Allen) of Fredericksburg; five nieces, four nephews and l great nieces whom he adored beyond words as well as his extended family from both the Pippins and the Gowens of Nelson County. Interment will follow in the Gowen Family Cemetery in Shipman.¹ He was born on January 7, 1972 at Manassas, Virginia.^1,3 He died on February 26, 2016 at Fredericksburg, Virginia, at age 44.¹

     Tennie LaVerne Helsel LaVerne Helsel Markham, 73, of Lynchburg, passed away Tuesday, January 21, 2020 at Lynchburg General Hospital. Born in Lynchburg, June 26, 1946, she was the daughter of the late Joseph Samuel Helsel and Thelma Johnson Helsel. She spent her youth roller-skating (and skipping school), but when she decided to get her GED at 24, she traded in her wild streak to help others. Her entire career was dedicated to adult education and helping others finish school. Sweet, sassy and generous, LaVerne was gifted in that she could see people's true essence, and she helped them bring out the best in themselves. It's safe to say that many of the days of her life, she laughed...and she made others laugh, too. LaVerne never met a stranger, and had friends everywhere she went. She talked to everyone and believed in friendships for life, as evidenced by her long-term best friendship with Sam Gowen, who also happened to be her ex-husband. She loved her grandsons like crazy, and treated the people she loved like family. Her family and friends remember her as passionate, strong-willed and loving. Her wit and kindness will be missed by everyone who knew her. She is survived by her daughter, Amy Markham and son-in-law Travis Boozer of Collierville, TN; two grandchildren, Oliver Markham and Henry Markham and her cousin, Kathleen Byrd and family.⁴ She was born on June 25, 1946 at Lynchburg, Virginia.^1,2,3 As of August 3, 1968,her married name was Gowen.¹ She married Samuel Benjamin "Sam" Gowen Jr., son of Samuel Benjamin Gowen and Helen Estelle Goolsby, on August 3, 1968 at Campbell Co., Virginia.^1,4 Tennie LaVerne Helsel and Samuel Benjamin "Sam" Gowen Jr. were divorced on February 26, 1993 at Lynchburg, Virginia.^2,4 Tennie LaVerne Helsel died on January 21, 2020 at Lynchburg, Virginia, at age 73.⁴

     Marshall Anderson Mays Jr. was buried at Amherst Cemetery, Amherst, Amherst Co., Virginia.³ He Marshall Anderson "Andy" Mays Jr., 63, passed away at his home after a long and courageous fight against pancreatic cancer on Wednesday, March 2, 2022. He is survived by his loving wife of 24 years, Faye Morman Mays. Andy was born on May 15, 1958, at Lynchburg Baptist Hospital, the son of Marshall Anderson Mays Sr. and Arlene Bradley Mays of Amherst, Virginia. Andy grew up in Amherst in their home on Ridge Drive and enjoyed a fun-filled and colorful childhood with his siblings Marlene, Doris, and Paula Ann in town and on their family's farm. He graduated from Amherst High School in 1976. He was an avid golfer and played on the golf team at Lynchburg College. After a year, he transferred to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville to join his sister Doris and other friends from Amherst. All can attest Andy was the life of the party and commanded any room with his slim, tall frame, handsome face and friendly demeanor, and excellent dancing. He joined the Phi Gamma Delta "Fiji" fraternity among many other extracurricular activities. He studied Agricultural Business and graduated from the University of Tennessee on December 12, 1980 with a degree in Agriculture. After graduation, Andy rejoined his father Marshall Mays at their family business, Mays Farmers Service, where he had worked from an early age. Mays Farmers Service was a Southern States franchise that provided farm supplies and services to the residents of Amherst and Nelson counties and surrounding areas for over 50 years. Andy had an excellent work ethic and was a friend to many in his role as general manager and partner of the store. His ability to connect and build relationships was not only good for business but also in helping support the community and the people he loved so dearly. In 2005, Andy struck out with his own business, AMFMenergy, as the Owner and President, to sell refurbished stoves for Englander Stove Works. He loved his work and continued in his role until his passing. Andy and his devoted wife Faye were married in 1998, and spent over two happy decades together enjoying each other's company. One of their favorite activities was their annual trip to North Myrtle Beach where they danced with their Beach Shag Club. They formed a close-knit community and enjoyed many memorable cruises with the friends they made there. Andy also enjoyed their home life, with many hours spent tinkering around the house and growing tomatoes. Like his mother's father "Grandpa Bradley," he had a gentle soul and a natural love of animals, whether it was his dogs, wildlife around the house, or the many feral cats who would roam nearby. He was an enthusiastic lover of cars, especially his Ford trucks and his various BMWs that he collected over the years. Andy's appreciation of the game of golf also never faded. He was a scratch golfer, and could be frequently found playing rounds at Winton Country Club with his buddies whom he loved more than the game. He served as Winton Country Club's President in the 2000's and won multiple member-member and member-guest championships (including 1986, 1998, 2018) Was Winton Club Champion in 2001 and Sr. Club Champion in 2013 - as well as winning other local tournaments including 1st place in the CVCC Alumni Open in 2003). His competitive spirit and sense of fun made him a favorite at the club, and we are told that he will be sorely missed. That competitive spirit translated to his arduous battle with pancreatic cancer. For almost three years, he bravely sought progressive treatments and pushed boundaries to help provide vital research to help further the search for the cure for others afflicted by this terrible disease. He became a source of inspiration to many, including his doctors at the University of Virginia, who dubbed him "The Miracle Man." His friends and family are incredibly proud of how strong he remained in the face of something so daunting, and were doubly impressed with his positivity and indomitable spirit throughout his long struggle. Andy finally succumbed to the disease on the evening of March 3rd, with his wife Faye by his side. Throughout their many years together, a passage from their wedding vows served as their compass when things became especially difficult: Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud, it is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but replies with the truth. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always endures all things. Love never fails, knowledge and all other things will pass away. But these three things remain faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. Corinthians, Chapter 13 verses 4-8 & 13. Faye says that they stuck by this through their marriage and were a strong pair. Andy was preceded in death by his father and mother, Marshall and Arlene Mays, and his sister, Paula Ann Mays. Andy is survived by his sisters, Marlene Mays Fitzgerald of Amherst, Virginia, and Doris Mays Moses and her husband, J. Steven Moses, of Charleston, W.Va. He also leaves behind many nieces and nephews and great nieces, nephews, and cousins, all keeping him close in prayer. The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to Dr. Reilly and his staff of oncologists and other experts working with Andy at the University of Virginia, as well as the wonderful team from Gentle Shepherd Hospice; and especially Andy's personal caregivers, Sherry Scott and Hannah Brown. A special thank you to Andy's dear and loyal friend, Sammy Massie, for transporting him to and from UVA for his treatments and appointments. They would also like to recognize their friends Bob Harris, Tim Crawford, and Bob Holmes for being the "Emergency" team when needed. Last not but least, the family's sincere thanks goes to cousins Dan and Cindy Sweeney whose generosity and support went unmatched when it was needed most. The graveside service at Amherst Cemetery will be for family members only.³ He was born on May 15, 1958 at Lynchburg, Virginia.^3,4 He married Faye Presley Moorman, daughter of Lewis Charles Moorman Jr. and Shirley Mae Smith, on October 24, 1998 at Lynchburg, Virginia.^1,2,5,3 Marshall Anderson Mays Jr. died on March 2, 2022 at Lynchburg, Virginia, at age 63.³

     Reese Martin Ross Jr. married Carolyn Jean Smith, daughter of Alfred Presley Smith and Gladys Virginia Shaner.¹ Reese Martin Ross Jr. was born on March 8, 1929 at Campbell Co., Virginia.²