Person Page - 680

     Jackie Ray Sowers Jr. was born on November 10, 1966 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^2,3 He married Vickie Leigh Sullivan on October 12, 1991 at Stafford, Stafford Co., Virginia.^3,4 Jackie Ray Sowers Jr. died on July 24, 2022 at Virginia at age 55.³ He Jackie Ray Sowers Jr., November 10, 1966 - July 24, 2022. Jackie Ray Sowers Jr., 55, of Fredericksburg, Va., passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, July 24, 2022. Jackie was a devoted husband, loving father, brother (RayRay), son, proud PaPa, dog dad, and he was, as his many dear friends called him, "Happy Jack". Jackie was born in Roanoke, Virginia and graduated from Radford University with honors in 1991. His college years as a Phi Sigma Kappa were among the "best times of his life". Upon graduation, he moved and settled in Fredericksburg where he began a successful 30-year career in the insurance industry. Over the years, he made many life-long friends associated with GEICO, Nationwide Insurance and FCCI Insurance Group. Jackie loved spending time with friends and family and cherished time spent on his river property in the Northern Neck. Jackie never met a stranger and always had a smile (except when Virginia Tech lost). He loved laughter and used his humor and wit to make everyone smile. He was an avid golfer, music lover, poolside DJ, self-proclaimed travel coordinator and sports enthusiast. With sentiments, "you only live once" and "life is short", he truly lived life to its fullest. Having Jackie in our lives has been the greatest blessing. The memories he leaves behind will live on in our hearts forever. Jackie is survived by his college sweetheart and loving wife of 30 years, Vicki Sullivan Sowers; sons, Camden and Cole; grandsons, Grayson and Gavin; sisters, Teresa Daniel (Mike) of Roanoke and Lisa Sowers of Richmond; mother-in-law, Sterling Sullivan; brother-in-law, Todd Sullivan; five nieces and nephews, many close aunts, uncles, and cousins and LOTS of friends. Jackie is also greatly missed by his beloved dogs, Zeke and Charlie. Jackie was preceded in death by his mother, Frances Pearl Conner Sowers; father, Jackie Ray Sowers Sr; sister, Sherry Elaine Sowers; and father-in-law, Lynwood B. Sullivan. on August 2, 2022.³

     Peggy Ann Thompson Peggy Thompson Shortt left us to be with the Lord on January 28th, 2023. She was greeted at the gates of heaven by her loving mother and father, Doris and Allen Thompson, and her sister, Kay Burnett. Peggy Thompson Shortt was born on November 2nd, 1951. She was the second of 4 daughters and 1 son born to the late Allen and Doris Thompson. She grew up and graduated high school in the small coal mining community of Gary, WV. She attended nursing school at Roanoke Memorial Hospital and graduated as a RN in June of 1972. While attending nursing school she met a young man from Floyd, VA. who was working as a custodian at the hospital. The two fell in love and were married on September 30th, 1972. Peggy and Dale built a life together and raised three beautiful daughters who blessed them with 4 beautiful grandchildren. On September 30th, 2022, surrounded by their family and friends, Peggy and Dale Shortt celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Peggy found her passion as a nurse, and she served the Roanoke Valley for 48 years before retiring in 2020. She is well known for her 22-year career as Director of Nursing at Snyder Nursing Home in Salem, VA. Her love for the staff and residents at Snyder's stayed with her long after her retirement and she will always be in the hearts of all who knew her. They were her second family and she loved them dearly. From a comforting voice to those who were ill and lonely, to a gentle touch to those in pain. A healing hand to the sick; with love in her heart for all. A sweet smile to someone having a rough day. A selfless servant who dedicated her life to those she cared for. A child of God, whom He chose to be His hands and feet to so many. To cherish her memory, she is survived by her husband Gene Dale Shortt, daughters Kim Caldwell (Paul), Tara Pagan (Gami), Sarah VanDyke (Justin); her four grandchildren Abbie Caldwell, Leah Pagan, Logan Pagan, and Elaine VanDyke; sisters Frankie Haase (Gary), Tammy Kinzer (Ray), brother Jeff Thompson; along with her nieces and nephews who were close to her heart. Thank you to all the hard-working staff at Carilion for the exceptional care Peggy received during her battle with ovarian cancer. Interment will follow in Old Dominion Memorial Gardens.³ She was buried at Old Dominion Memorial Gardens, 7271 Cloverdale Road, Cloverdale, Botetourt Co., Virginia.³ She was born on November 2, 1951 at West Virginia.^1,2,3 She married Gene Dale Shortt, son of Jack Lee Shortt Sr. and Madeline Dawn Sweeney, on September 30, 1972 at Roanoke Co., Virginia.^1,2,3 As of September 30, 1972,her married name was Shortt.¹ Peggy Ann Thompson died on January 28, 2023 at Virginia at age 71.³

     John Joshua Sweeney was born on November 30, 1861 at Floyd Co., Virginia. He married Elizabeth Sweeney, daughter of Samuel L. Sweeney and Margaret Thomas, on January 16, 1884 at Floyd Co., Virginia.¹ John Joshua Sweeney died on June 5, 1951 at Floyd Co., Virginia, at age 89.

     Elizabeth Sweeney was born on September 15, 1861 at Floyd Co., Virginia. She married John Joshua Sweeney, son of Benjamin Sweeney/Swinney and Catherine "Fanny" Underwood, on January 16, 1884 at Floyd Co., Virginia.¹ Elizabeth Sweeney died on March 18, 1933 at Floyd Co., Virginia, at age 71.

     Roger Ward Shortt was buried at Jacksonville Burial Ground, Rt. 8, 0.25 miles south of Floyd, Floyd Co., Virginia.^2,6 He was born on May 21, 1950 at Roanoke Co., Virginia.^1,2,3,5,6 He married Brenda Gail Alley on August 2, 1969 at Floyd, Floyd Co., Virginia.^1,2,6 Roger Ward Shortt died on May 27, 1971 at Appomattox Co., Virginia, at age 21; Died in an auto accident.^2,6

     Mary Thelma "Mary Nell" Gardner Mary Thelma Sweeney (known to many as Mary Nell), 91, of Christiansburg, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, October 10, 2020. She was preceded in death by her son, Mark Darren Sweeney; husband, Oscar Roy Sweeney, Jr; 7 brothers; 1 sister; and many nieces and nephews. Mary is survived by her son, Phillip Dwayne Sweeney and wife Linda Renee Sweeney; grandchildren, Bradley David Sweeney and wife Nicole Allene Sweeney, Brandon Dale Sweeney, Anastasia Adair Sweeney, Axel Phillip Sweeney; great-grandchildren, Shawn Lee Hypes, Bradley Cameron Sweeney, Nathaniel Oscar Sweeney, Brycen Russell Sweeney, Landon Gunnar Sweeney, Ryder Axel Sweeney, and Grover Rostin Sweeney; and special friends, Doris Jones, Jean Wright, and Barbara Waugh. Mary was passionate about her yard! She loved all kinds of flowers and always kept her yard well landscaped. She was a member of Auburn Baptist Church in Riner. She retired after 20 years from Belk Department Store. The family would like to send a very special thank you to her caregivers – Samantha Green, Savannah Gates, Colleen Lester and to family friend and nurse, Kimberly Wilson, LNP. Interment will follow in Sunset Cemetery, Christiansburg.³ She was buried at Sunset Cemetery, 501 South Franklin Street, Christiansburg, Montgomery Co., Virginia.^3,5 She was born on June 8, 1929 at Montgomery Co., Virginia.^5,4 She married Oscar Roy Sweeney Jr., son of Oscar Roy Sweeney Sr. and Daisy Margaret Ellen Sweeney, on December 24, 1950.^5,1,2,3 As of December 24, 1950,her married name was Sweeney.⁵ Mary Thelma "Mary Nell" Gardner died on October 10, 2020 at Christiansburg, Montgomery Co., Virginia, at age 91.³

     Mark Daren Sweeney was buried at Sunset Cemetery, 501 South Franklin Street, Christiansburg, Montgomery Co., Virginia.^1,3,6 He was born on September 2, 1960 at Roanoke Co., Virginia.^1,2,5 He died on July 6, 1974 at Charlottesville, Virginia, at age 13; His gravestone has a death date of Jul 7, 1974.^1,2,3,6 He Mark Daren Sweeney, 13, of Christiansburg, died Sunday in the University of Virginia Hospital, Charlottesville. He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Oscar R. Sweeney, Jr; one brother, Phillip D. Sweeney, at home; his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. O. L. Surratt, Riner, and Mr. and Mrs. Oscar R. Sweeney, of Floyd. The funeral was today from Auburn Baptist Church with burial in Sunset Cemetery. on July 9, 1974.³

     Roger Shortt was buried at Jacksonville Burial Ground, Rt. 8, 0.25 miles south of Floyd, Floyd Co., Virginia.⁵ He was born on January 7, 1925 at Floyd, Floyd Co., Virginia.^3,5,6 He married Margie Weda Sweeney, daughter of Oscar Roy Sweeney Sr. and Daisy Margaret Ellen Sweeney, on June 12, 1948 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^7,1,3,5 Roger Shortt died on May 13, 2019 at Virginia at age 94.⁵ He Roger Shortt, 94 years old, departed this life on Monday, May 13, 2019. Roger was born in Floyd, Va., on January 7, 1925, to Amos Benjamin and Callie Barton Shortt. Predeceasing him were his parents, his son, Roger Ward Shortt, and his brothers and sisters-in-law, Wilson and Ola Shortt, Ward Shortt, Jack and Madeline Shortt, and Diamond Shortt. He is survived by his wife of 70 years Margie Sweeney Shortt, sons and daughters-in-law, Richard and Betsy Shortt of Bowling Green, Virginia, James and Stephanie Shortt of Floyd, Va., and daughter and son-in-law, Ann-Margaret Shortt and George Slusher of Floyd, Va. Also surviving are grandchildren and spouses Scott and Theresa Shortt, David Shortt, Samuel and Lindsay Shortt, Jonathan Shortt, Jameson Shortt, Reuben Slusher and Daisy Slusher, and great grandchildren Addison, Jozef and Atlee. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Sylvia P. Shortt and many nieces and nephews. Roger was a 1943 graduate of Floyd High School and served in the United States Army Combat Engineers Division from 1943 to 1946 in England, Germany, and France. He was employed by General Electric for 30 years and was a member of Little River Baptist Church where he served as Deacon and Superintendent of Sunday School. Roger leaves behind many cherished memories for those who loved him in the Roger Road community, Little River Baptist Church membership, the Floyd VFW and the American Legion. Interment will follow in the Jacksonville Cemetery with Military Rites by the Floyd V.F.W. Post #7854, American Legion Post #127, and the Army National Guard. on May 15, 2019.⁵

     His Social Security Number was 226-64-6701.⁶ Amos Benjamin Shortt was buried at County Line Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery, 1.4 miles down Rt. 635 from Blue Ridge Parkway, Floyd Co., Virginia.² He married Callie G. Barton.^2,5 Amos Benjamin Shortt was born on September 1, 1879 at Virginia.^2,3,4,6 He died on April 16, 1970 at Salem, Roanoke Co., Virginia, at age 90.^2,3