Nelson County Times
Published: December 27, 2007

Hazel Marie Gowen Arthur, 82, formerly of Hurt, died on Dec. 20.
Born June 29, 1925, in Campbell County, she was a daughter of the late Wilson Rodwell Gowen and Stella Vivian Yeatts Gowen.
She was predeceased by her husband, Clyde Arthur; a sister, Shirley Ferriell; and two brothers, Fred Gowen and Robert Gowen. She was a home maker and of the baptist faith.
She is survived by four brothers, James Gowen of Gladys, Burnell Gowen, of Altavista, Wayne Gowen, of Altavista and Emmett Gowen, of Gladys; seven sisters, Kathleen Slough, of Rustburg, Ethel Hackworth, of Evington, Geraldine Mathews, of Hurt, Lorraine Denton, of Amherst, Delphine Cash, of Amherst, Margaret Owens, of Gretna and Gloria Jean Peak, of Alphanetta, Ga.
Graveside services were conducted on Dec. 22 at New Prospect Baptist Church Cemetery.

Hilda "Madeline" Hamilton Barnard, 69, of Altavista, died on Dec. 19. For 45 years, she was the wife of the late Roy Carter Barnard Sr.
Born June 26, 1938, in Amherst County, she was the daughter of the late Hazel Edward Hamilton and the late Ina Thomas Hamilton Hollifield. She was a member of Penuel Baptist Church.
She is survived by her son, Roy C. Barnard Jr. and his wife, D.J., of Altavista; her daughter, Deborah B. Francis and husband David, of Altavista; two brothers, James E. Hamilton and wife Dorothy, of Concord, and Glenn E. Hamilton, of Altavista; four grandchildren, Christopher, Carry, Star, and Ace; and many great-grandchildren.
A funeral service was conducted on Dec. 21 at Whitten Timberlake Chapel. Interment followed in Fort Hill Memorial Park.

Franklin Delano Bowling, 70, died on Dec. 20.
Born Feb. 23, 1937, in Amherst County, he was a son of Ottie Campbell Bowling, of Amherst and the late Aubrey Hampton Bowling and a grandson of the late Thomas Duval and Hettie Bowling and the late Ralph and Manie Campbell.
He was a member of Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church. He was a retired painter, construction worker and truck driver.
He is survived by his wife, Marcella; one son, Keith Bowling and wife Lynda, of Amherst; two daughters, Sheryl Bowling, of Amherst, and Christie Falkner and husband Jimmy, of Grapevine, Texas; a sister, Eloise Bowling, of Lynchburg; five grandchildren, Jeremy Almond, Renee Polen, Amy Rice, Jenny Rice and Miranda Bowling; two great-grandchildren; three step-children, John Alvin Jordan, of Fairfax, Nancy Greene, of Spout Spring, and Brenda Hamilton, of Appomattox; seven step-grandchildren Niki, Landon, George, Bronson, Johnny, Tina, and Tricia; three aunts, Cynthia Boling, Shirley Campbell, and Vernell Campbell; one uncle, Howard Carpenter; and numerous other family members.
He was preceded in death by a son, Mark Anthony Bowling.
Funeral services were conducted on Dec. 23 at Mr. Pleasant United Methodist Church. Burial  followed in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.

Lily Switzer Bowling, 73, of Amherst, died on Dec. 18. She was the former wife of the late John T. Bowling Sr.
Born Oct. 10, 1934, in Alleghany County, she was the daughter of the late Henry Jackson Weaver Switzer and America Ball Switzer. She was a member of Faith Bible Church in Faulconerville.
In addition to her former husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her son, John T. Bowling Jr. and brother, Charles Switzer.
She is survived by her daughters, Elizabeth B. Branch of Big Island, Barbara B. Johnson and her husband, Sidney and Rhonda Deel Bowling and her husband, Jesse, both of Amherst; four sisters, Helen Peters, Marie Branham, and Henrietta Cash, all of Amherst and Jane Martin and her husband, Leonard of Madison Heights; seven grandchildren, Bailey, John, Sarah, Nicole, Roger, Jr., Brittany, and Morgan; one great-grandchild; and friends.
A funeral service was conducted on Dec. 20 at Whitten Monelison Chapel. Interment followed in Amherst Cemetery.

Clifford Franklin Harris, 75, of Faber, died on Dec. 18.
Born Sept. 30, 1932 in Nelson County, he was a son of the late Allen F. Harris and Zora Mawyer Harris. He was a member of Rock Spring United Methodist Church, a U.S. Navy veteran with over 20 years of service and a Security Guard at Monticello in Charlottesville.
He is survived by his son, Clifford F. Harris Jr. and wife Sally of Norfolk; two sisters, Dorothy M. Harris of Faber and Mildred L. Harris of Blackstone; three brothers, Cecil A. Harris of Culpeper, Herbert E. Harris of Goochland and Ray H. Harris of Faber; two grandsons, Jack and Jason; and several nieces and nephews.
His brothers James and Edward and his sister Gladys Shaver preceded him in death.
A funeral service was held on Dec. 22 at the graveside in Rock Spring Cemetery at Faber. VFW Post 7701 of Colleen accorded military rites at the graveside.

Virginia Gray Harvey, 67, of Clifton Forge, formerly of Charlottesville, died on Dec. 19.
Born April 9, 1940, in Albemarle County, she was the daughter of the late Stonewall and Ruby Harvey.
Survivors include her sisters and brothers, Delta M. Harvey and her husband, Warren F., of Charlottesville, William J. Harvey and friend, Sadie, of Charlottesville, Peggy J. Marrs of Richmond, Barbara F. Stevens and her husband, Baron Stevens of Richmond, and Mary L. Morris and her husband, W.C. Morris of Charlottesville, 17 nieces and nephews and several great - nieces and nephews.
A memorial funeral service will be conducted at 1 p.m. on Dec. 27 at the chapel of the Hill and Wood Funeral Home.
A private family interment will be conducted at Monticello Memory Gardens.

Tommy Wade Leathers, 59, of Charlottesville, died on Dec. 17.
Born June 1, 1948, in Tupelo, Miss., he was a son of the late Ruble Wade and Eula Leathers.
He was a maintenance worker with Fashion Square Mall in Charlottesville.
He is survived by his stepmother, Helen Leathers, of Golden, Miss.; one son, Christopher Wade Leathers, of Lynchburg; one daughter, Brandi Leathers Nicolaisen and her husband Billy, of Booneville, Miss.; three brothers, Eddie Leathers, of Golden, Miss., Edward Leathers and his wife Angel, of Phil Campbell, Ala., and Jeffrey Leathers and his wife Angela, of Tupelo, Miss.
A family gathering and time of remembrance was held on Dec. 22 at the home of Nancy Leathers.

James Thomas Sprouse, 57, died on Dec. 14.
He was born in Charlottesville, on July 18, 1950. He was the son of the late James Lewis Sprouse and the late Daisy Moore Sprouse.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Robert Samuel Sprouse; and a sister, Joyce Ann Sprouse.
He is survived by four sisters, Carolyn Ferguson and her friend, Francisco Bruno, of Charlottesville, Debbie Jenkins and her fiance, Thomas Hicks, of Cumberland County, Sharon Sprouse and her friend, Mitchell Morris, of Schuyler, and Karen Beverly and her friend, Andy Ringwood of Batesville; and many nieces and nephews.
He was an army veteran with a National Defense Service medal.
Funeral services were held on Dec. 21 at Culpeper National Cemetery.

Johnnie Lincoln Turner, 62, formerly of Wintergreen, died on Dec. 18.
He was born June 14, 1945, in Nelson County, the son of Christ Eve Turner and the late Sampson Murphy Jordan.
Surviving relatives include his mother, two daughters, two stepsons, seven brothers, six sisters, five grandchildren, and a host of other relatives and friends.
A funeral service was held on Dec. 22 at the Elk Hill Baptist Church in Wintergreen. Burial was in the Elk Hill Baptist Church Cemetery.

Waldo Charles Whistleman, 84, of Stuarts Draft died on Dec. 19.
Born June 10, 1923, in McDowell, he was a son of the late Charles Burton and Lida Hodge Whistleman.
He retired in 1986 from Augusta Co-op feed mill in Staunton and was a life-long farmer. He was a member of Pines Chapel Presbyterian Church for over 50 years and served as an elder, treasurer and Sunday school teacher.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Lewis and Leo Whistleman; and a sister, Cleo Welch.
Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Phyllis Cline Whistleman; two brothers, William H. Whistleman and his wife, Cleo, of Greenville; Fred C. Whistleman of Staunton; brother-in-law, Kirkley W. Cline and his wife, Rosa, of Waynesboro; sister-in-law, Rosa L. Beard of Corpus Christi, Texas; and a number of nieces and nephews.
A service was conducted on Dec. 22 at Pines Chapel Presbyterian Church. Interment followed in the church cemetery.