Our mother Carrol Sinclair Litchford Bowen who had proudly lived to be 100 years old, went Home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus, and her many loved ones who had gone before her in the early morning of April 24, 2024. She was the second of four children born to late Hunter Kennon Dawson and Lula Elizabeth Mix Dawson.
Born in Hopewell, VA on November 2, 1923, God blessed her with a long life, many answered prayers and many more blessings. She was a fighter and a strong determined woman; she had to be after having 11 children and even raising them alone when her first husband, Jim Litchford, passed away at just 43 years old. She survived the loss of four of her own children. Before she married she was a Majorette at E.C. Glass and even played xylophone in the band. Carrol loved life, she loved bird-watching, and seeing the squirrels eat the food she would place for them. Carrol was a lover of going on rides with Debbie and she enjoyed the opportunities to place flowers on her children’s graves. She enjoyed scratching her lottery tickets and the hope of hitting it big, and loved her one and only sister who knew how to make her laugh and kept her entertained. Carrol enjoyed watching her sister dance around, it made the whole family laugh, attended her family gatherings at home and really relished in her large and loving family. All the babies loved to sit in Mamaw’s lap. She was a member of Gospel Baptist Church until she could no longer go. Carrol also read her Bible every night, and prayed for each of her children by name. She and Bill Used to enjoy watching wrestling, and would go down to the City Armory in Lynchburg to watch live wrestling events. Carrol would watch her favorite show, wheel of fortune and entertained herself with word finds and searches. Above most of these things Carrol loved Buddy, her pug grand-dog.
Carrol was preceded in death by her first-husband James L. Litchford; her second-husband Bill Bowen; her daughter Jean Litchford Stinnett, her daughter Linda Litchford McFadden, her son Henry L. Litchford and her son Michael W. Litchford; her father Hunter Kennon Dawson and her mother Lula Elizabeth (Mix) Dawson; her brother William "Bill" O. Dawson and her brother Hunter "Sonny" Kennon Dawson, Jr.
Those left to cherish Carrol's memory include her daughter Ann Litchford Tyree of Gladstone, Virginia; her son James "Jimmy" L. Litchford, Jr. (Betty) of Madison Heights, Virginia; her daughter Diane Litchford of Hurt, Virginia; her son Mitchell A. Litchford and his wife Roxanne of Lynchburg, Virginia; her daughter Sandra Litchford Childress (Everett) of Madison Heights, Virginia; her daughter Penny Litchford Henry of Lynchburg, Virginia; and her daughter Wanda Gail Litchford of Roanoke, Virginia; and her beautiful and only sister, Barbara Dawson Brown of Lynchburg, Virginia.
Mrs. Bowen also leaves behind her many extended family members - so many it would be difficult to name them all! - her 38 grandchildren, 60 Great-Grandchildren, 50 Great-Great-Grandchildren, with a special thanks for her care-givers Debbie Ballagh, Debbie Bowen, Janet Pillis and Ruth Wood.
Debbie Bowen and Ruth Wood, and the first grandchild Janet Pillis were with her till the end, mother loved them all.
A celebration of her 100 years of life will occur Saturday, April 27, 2024 at 2:00 PM, at Whitten Monelison Chapel with Pastor Steve Ramsey officiating. The family will receive friends the night prior, on Friday, April 26, 2024 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Whitten Monelison Chapel. Interment will follow at Meade Cemetery in Madison Heights.
She fought the good fight, finished her course and kept the faith.Henceforth there is laid up for her a crown of righteousness which the Lord will giver her at that day... But also to all who love His appearing! - 2nd Timothy, chapter 4, verses 7 and 8.
Contributions in Carrol's memory may be made to Lynchburg Humane Society, 1211 Old Graves Mill Road, Lynchburg, Virginia 24502 US, https://lynchburghumane.org/donations/annual-fund/.
