April 22, 2012

Margaret Evie Milteer Fowler, 92, of Suffolk, Va., passed away on April 22, 2012. A native of Nansemond County, Va., she was the daughter of the late Jethro Thomas Milteer Sr. and Mary Taylor Milteer. She was predeceased by her husband of 42 years, Oscar Bright Fowler Sr.; a grandson, Jeffrey Dwight Smith, sisters, Nancy M. Mann and Catherine M. Bolton; and brothers, J. T. Milteer Jr. and Newman T. Milteer.

In addition to being a homemaker and mother, Evie was a seamstress for many years at the Fashion Shop, Russell and Holmes, and later at Holmes, Ltd. She served for 20 years on the board of directors of OMCO Products Co. Inc. She was a member of Holy Neck Christian Church; past president of the Ladies’ Bible Class; past president of the Women’s Fellowship, and had some rewarding moments working on the Outreach Committee. Her church was an important part of her life. She also was a member of the Holland Women’s Club, past member of the Historic Planning Commission for the city of Suffolk, and was an avid gardener.

She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Joan F. and Johnny W. Minter, of Port Charlotte, Fla., Mamie G. “Trudy” and Marshall D. Smith, of Centreville, Md.; sons and daughters-in-law, Oscar Bright Fowler Jr. and Margaret H. Fowler, of Davenport, Fla., and Timothy M. and Nancy D. Fowler, of Sunderland, Md.; grandchildren: Cherie S. Schiavone, David M. Smith, J. Travis Boyce, D. Clay Boyce, Jessica F. Whitesell, and Kimberly Fowler; great-grandchildren, Vincent, Nicholas, Colby, Sydney, Melissann, Forrest, Tyler; brother and sister-in-law, John E. and Martha Milteer; sister-in-law, Katherine S. Milteer; and numerous nieces and nephews.

For the past four and a half years she was a resident of East Pavilion at Southampton Memorial Hospital, where she was lovingly cared for by the staff on the west wing as well as her special caregivers, Carolyne Bryant, Shirley Weathers and Pat Beamon.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, April 26, 2012, at 11 a.m. at Holy Neck Christian Church with the Rev. Drew Mountcastle and the Rev. Reggie Warren officiating. A time of visitation will follow after the service in the church fellowship hall. Burial will be held at 3 p.m. at Holly Lawn Cemetery following the time of visitation. Friends can join the family other times at the Fowler residence. Memorial donations may be made to the George M. Davis Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o James Copeland, 2370 Box Elder Road, Suffolk, VA 23437. Condolences may be registered online at www.parrfuneralhome.com.