Lois Carnell Steagall

Lois Carnell (Connie) Steagall, 86, a resident of Blue Ridge Manor in Martinsville, passed over to her eternal home on Thursday, January 30, 2014 following an illness. She was born in Henry County, November 7, 1927 to the late Willie Jackson (Jack) Donavant and Claudia Ethel Minter Donavant. She was a long-time member of Chatham Heights Baptist Church in Martinsville, which her father and brothers helped to build. Lois was a long-time employee of Martinsville First Savings Bank, (now First Federal Savings and Loan) retiring after 33 years of service. She enjoyed gardening and the bounty it produced and playing a friendly game of Rook with her sister, Gertrude and Rudy.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, of 54 years, Rudolph (Rudy) V. Steagall whom she married on March 1, 1947; three brothers, Clarence C. Donavant, Herbert Claiborne Donavant and Marvin A. Donavant, Sr.; two sisters, Gladys D. Riddle and Gertrude D. McGuire; son-in-law, Gary Lee Howdock and grandson, Gary Allen Howdock.

She is survived by her daughter, Lois Anne Howdock of 329 Crabapple Road, Reidsville, NC 27320; one granddaughter, Mechelle H. Gengler and husband, Andrew; great-grandchildren, Lucas Allen and Chase Jackson Gengler, all of Reidsville, NC; one sister, Ella Donavant Wright and husband, Andrew of Martinsville and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral service will be held Saturday, February 1, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at McKee-Stone funeral Home in Martinsville with the Rev. Dr. Michael Hatfield officiating. The family will receive friends from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home prior to the service. Interment will follow at Roselawn Burial Park.

The family will also receive friends at the home of Larry and Carolyn Evans, 170 Chatmoss Court in Martinsville on Friday, January 31, 2014, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Donations can be made in Connie’s memory to Chatham Heights Baptist Church, 1235 Chatham Road, Martinsville, VA 24112 or St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

The family would like to give special thanks to the caring staff at Blue Ridge Manor. Connie considered Blue Ridge Manor her home for the past five years with all her special friends who reside there. A special “thank you” also to her family and friends who supported her throughout her illness with prayers, visits and cards.

To express condolences online, please visit www.collinsmckeestonemartinsville.com.