Bobbie Louise Seward

Bobbie Louise Seward, 82, went home to be with Our Lord on January 27, 2014. She was born in Larned, Kansas on January 9, 1932 and raised in Conroe, Texas. She graduated from Hardin-Simmons University, in Abilene, TX in 1952 where she received both an undergraduate and master’s degree in elementary education. Louise was an elementary school teacher for about 38 years. The majority of her teaching was at Norfolk Highlands Elementary School. Her love for teaching was a strong part of her family so much that all three of her sisters were teachers, as well. She enjoyed reading and singing in the choir. She also had a talent for drawing, sewing and art of all kinds. Louise was a lover of animals. She enjoyed teaching her students about many different animals and would bring her pets to school for them to enjoy. She even allowed some of her students to take them home on the weekends. She shared with her students: gerbils, mice, and gene pigs. She also had many dogs and cats as a child and an adult. Her most recent love was her black and white cat, Cuddles.

Louise was a devoted mother to two children: Robert Winston Seward, Chesapeake Deputy Sheriff and Karen Jo Sims of Hattiesburg, MS. Louise was preceded by her husband Rev. J.D. Seward of Newport News, Va. They were married for 56 years. She served alongside him locally at Elizabeth River Baptist Church of Chesapeake, Va. and Brook Baptist Church of Virginia Beach, Va. Louise leaves three grandchildren: Kathryn Jenae Sims, Lane Ryan Seward and Cody Ryan Sims, who all three have a love of music as she did. Louise was the daughter of the late John Addison Gardner and Irene Evelyn Berglund Gardner; sister to Velma Jean Stevens and Shirley Ann Fore. She was preceded in death by her brother David Lawrence Gardner and sister Norma Lee Gardner. She also leaves other relatives: sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends at Elizabeth River Baptist Church (601 Sparrow Rd., Chesapeake) on Saturday, February 8 at 10:30 a.m., followed by the celebration of her life and memorial at 11:00 a.m. She will be laid to rest with her husband at 3:00 p.m. at the Rosewood Memorial Park Cemetery (631 N. Witchduck Rd., Virginia Beach). In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Gideon’s International.