Obituaries

Vera Ann Pruitt Bowers, 84, of Martinsville, Va. passed away Monday, August 7, 2023. She was born June 10, 1939, in Axton, Va. to Joe Pruitt and Martha Sue Stegall Harris Pruitt.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Billy Bowers II; sons, Joe Billy Bowers III and Doug Bowers; and son-in-law Tim Odell; daughters, Patricia Bowers Underwood; sisters, Mamie Sue Pruitt Case, and Ruby Harris McDaniel Talley, Oretha Harris Pruitt; brothers, Joe Pruitt, Jr., Leonard, Walter, and Thomas Harris.

She is survived by her daughter of the home, Martha Bowers Odell, daughters, Elizabeth Garman, Carolynn Bowers, and Lou Bowers Slate; sons, Mike, Jimmy, Bobby, and Tommy Bowers; sister Evelyn Pruitt Burgess; brother, Bobby Gene Pruitt; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Vera dearly loved her family and especially her grandchildren. She also loved to cook and sit on her front porch. She worked as a veneer specialist for over 40 years at American of Martinsville Furniture Company. She attended Amazing Grace Church in Stoneville, N.C.

She was a long-time member of the Fieldale Ruritan Club where she received the Ruritan of the Year and Tom Downing awards.

A graveside service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, at the Stegall-Harris-Pruitt family cemetery in Irisburg, Va., and will be officiated by Reverend Sammy Caldwell.

In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to the Go-Fund me page under Martha Odell's name on Facebook to help with funeral expenses.

McKee-Stone Funeral Home is handling arrangements.