Obituary of Gabriella McDowell

Gabriella Van Patten McDowell Native of Norfolk, VA Mrs. Gabriella Madison Van Patten McDowell, age 88, of the 901 Halstead Boulevard, Elizabeth City, NC, died Sunday, June 13, 2004, at Guardian Care Nursing Home. Mrs. McDowell, a native of Norfolk, VA, was the widow of William Patton McDowell, Jr., and the daughter of the late Isaace Toll Van Patten, Jr., and Carolyn Luceila McClain Van Patten. She was a homemaker and a member of the First United Methodist Church in Elizabeth City. The McDowell’s made their home in Elizabeth City during the forties and fifties before moving to Virginia Beach. Mrs. McDowell returned to make her home in Elizabeth City in the early nineties. Mrs. McDowell is survived by one daughter, Gabriella ‘Billy Gay’ McDowell Singletary and husband, Gene Singletary of Camden, NC; four sons, William Patton McDowell, III, and wife Dianne Pritchard McDowell of Elizabeth City, NC, Charles Samuel McDowell and wife, Mary Louis Thrush McDowell of Wilmington, DE, Archiebald McKay McDowell and wife, Teresa Wright McDowell of Virginia Beach, VA, and William Woodley McDowell and wife, Bonnie Fisher McDowell of Virginia Beach, VA; three sisters, Margaret Van Patten Cowell of Seattle, WA, Dinah Bradford Van Patten of Phoenix, AZ, and Dula Van Patten Fuller of Asheville, NC; one brother, Isaac Toll Van Patten, III of Virginia Beach, VA; fourteen grandchildren; ten great grandchildren; and three special ‘family,’ Thelma Gray, Shirley Ferebee and Janie Thomas. She was predeceased by a sister, Lucelia Van Patten White. A graveside memorial service will be Wednesday, June 16, 2004, at 11:30 AM in Forest Lawn Cemetery with the Rev. Clyde Denny officiating. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 6:00 to 9:00 PM at the residence of the son, Mr. & Mrs. William Patton McDowell, III, 1701 Parkview Drive, Elizabeth City, NC, and after the service at the residence of the son, Mr. & Mrs. Archie McDowell, 1200 Colwyck Court, Virginia Beach, VA. Memorial donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church, PO Box 401, Elizabeth City, NC 27907, or American Parkinson’s Disease Association, 60 Bay Street, Suite 401, Staten Island, NY 10301. You may sign the online guest register at www.twifordfh.com. Twiford’s Memorial Chapel, 405 East Church Street, Elizabeth City, NC, is in charge of arrangements.