Louetta Gibbons

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Mrs. Louetta Irene Godwin Gibbons, of Sanford, passed away Monday, Jan. 30, 2023, at the home of her daughter, in Melfa, while surrounded by her loving family.  

Louetta was born on Nov. 8, 1938, in Sanford, where she lived nearly all her life. She attended Atlantic High School and graduated in 1957 as the salutatorian of her class. She then married Edward Lee Gibbons and embarked on a career that included working in banking for Farmers and Merchants and NASA FCU for many years before starting another career as an office manager for Dr. E.W. “Tom” Bosworth in Onancock, where she remained until his retirement in 2002. In retirement, Louetta was able to enjoy time with her family in their homes and on trips to anywhere it was warm.

She and Edward had two daughters, Diana Gibbons Bonniwell and Tammy Gibbons Matthews. They had a long and loving marriage of 58 years, enjoying boating, fishing, square dancing, camping, playing many rounds of Rook, and spending time with their family. She was a member of Guilford United Methodist Church and the Order of the Eastern Star.

Louetta was preceded in death by her husband, Edward; her daughter, Diana; her parents, Irene White Godwin and John Nathan Godwin Sr.; as well as siblings, Peggy Miller, John N. Godwin Jr., and Sylvia Whitmore; brothers-in-law, Melvin Miller, Andrew Parks, Ronnie Whitmore, Richard Gibbons, Johnny Gibbons, and Olin Mears; and sisters-in-law, Margie Godwin and Lois Ann Mears.   

She is survived by her daughter, Tammy; sons-in-law, Ron Matthews and Reade Bonniwell; grandchildren, Christy Baylis (Shawn), Cindy Daniels (Brian), Connie Cooper (Skyy), Ashleigh Miller (Matt), and Justin Matthews (Brittany). She is also survived by her great-grandchildren, Connor and Caitlin Daniels, Brayden and Liam Miller, Elyana and Ruby Cooper, Aiden and Shanon Gaston, and Mayson, Foster, and Levin Matthews; as well as her siblings, Ann Pruitt (Johnny), Roberta Chance (Eddie); sisters-in-law, Rosemary Gibbons, Milicent Gibbons; and many nieces and nephews.

Louetta was known as “Mema” to all her grandchildren, as well as the children and grandchildren of her siblings, and loved nothing more than the time she spent with them at home, at the beach, on the boat, or on the road whenever and wherever the journey might take them.

Services will be conducted from the graveside at the Wachapreague Cemetery on Friday, Feb. 3, 2023, at 11 a.m., with The Rev. Monica Gould officiating. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 (stjude.org/donate) or to a charity of your choice.

Memory tributes may be shared with the family at www.williamsfuneralhomes.com

Arrangements were by the Williams-Onancock Funeral Home.

William Lowman Jr.

Mr. William Everett “Billy” Lowman Jr., 84, husband of Leslie Ruffner Lowman, passed away Monday, Jan. 30, 2023. Born Jan. 21, 1939, in Chestertown, Md., he was the son of the late William Everett Lowman Sr. and the late Nellie Virginia Pippin.

Billy spent most of his childhood in Church Hill, Md., and later moved to Galena, Md. Following high school, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving his country for three years until honorable discharge in July of 1959. Billy owned and operated Lowman’s Marine in Galena during the ‘70s and early ‘80s, a career that paired well with his love for waterfowl hunting and fishing. In the mid ‘80s he and Leslie opened a restaurant. For more than a decade Billy’s served countless patrons in Galena. Retirement led Billy and Leslie to the Eastern Shore of Virginia, where they have made their home, in East Point, for nearly 30 years.

In addition to his wife, Billy is survived by his son, Dean T. Lowman of Wharton, Md.; daughter Dee Ann Wicks-Coker of Dover, Del.; sister, Connie Price of Galena; several very special cousins; and many nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Cemetery, in Church Hill, at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Jefferson Heart Institute, Office of Institutional Advancement, Department 825434, P.O. Box 71331, Philadelphia, PA 19176-1331 (giving.jefferson.edu).

Memory tributes may be shared with the family at www.williamsfuneralhomes.com

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