Obituaries

Carole Jean Perkins Crews, 84, of Lynchburg, VA passed away peacefully at home on July 10, 2023 with her loving husband, Marshall Clements Crews, and her children by her side. She was born in Scotland County, NC to the late Frank and Addie Mae Chavers Perkins as the youngest of six children. She attended Gardner-Webb College in Boiling Springs, NC where she met her soul mate, Marshall. She graduated from Flora MacDonald College in 1961. After marrying in August of 1961, she and Marshall began their life together in a small, four-room house in Naruna, VA, a short distance from William Campbell High School where she began what would be a 25-year teaching career. Teaching was her calling. She was a wonderful teacher in every sense of the word. Not only did she educate high school students in English and Latin, but she also taught the word of God to members of her Adult and Youth Sunday School classes. She tackled any new endeavor by teaching herself anything she needed to know to accomplish her goal. The most important teaching she ever did was to her three children. She taught them to be strong, compassionate, and independent. Most of all, she taught them to love all and the importance of family. Jean was a master seamstress. Through the years, she created and sewed many of her own clothes and those of her children and grandchildren when they were young. Her daughters were the biggest benefactors by her having made numerous prom dresses and both of their treasured wedding gowns. She turned this talent into a business, Jean’s Sewing Shop in Chase City, VA. She took her sewing to another level when she developed an interest in quilting. Not surprisingly, she became a master of that as well. She produced beautiful quilts which she made out of love for her children, her grandchildren, and Marshall’s siblings. She also inspired her daughter in-law to become a quilting artisan. She designed and made a quilt for The Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired Tactile Quilt Project. This quilt became the prototype for others to use and she was recognized for her efforts and for the impact this would have in helping blind children. She continued to quilt for as long as she was able to get to her sewing machine or pick up a needle. Jean did not like idle time. She constantly had a project or two going and always had a book within her reach. In addition to her sewing and reading, she filled her time with painting, ceramics, knitting, crocheting or just sitting and talking with friends over coffee. Jean was the loving wife of Marshall for nearly sixty-two years. In Virginia, Marshall’s job took them from Brookneal to Chase City and back to Brookneal. No matter where they were, their home was a welcome and loving one, not only to their children but to other family members, friends, and friends of their children. Because of her loving, open arms, to many, their home was like a second home and she was like a second mother. Jean was a mother that was always there to support and help her children. She had a firm but calm manner when she disciplined them, yet she had the patience of Job when she helped them learn something new. She always expressed praise and pride for them in their accomplishments. She was the rock they could always count on. She was loved tremendously and will be missed by so many. She is survived by her husband, Marshall Clements Crews; son Mark Edward Crews (Andrea LaTemple Crews) of Charlottesville, VA; daughter Marsha Jean Crews Owens (Derek) of Raleigh, NC; daughter Catherine Leigh Crews Kirkland (Jeff) of Charlotte, NC; grandchildren John Marshall Crews, Angelina Frances Crews, Emma Haydon Owens, Mary Withers Kirkland, James Marshall Owens, Carole Adickes Kirkland, Sara Marshall Kirkland and Thomas Jefferson Kirkland, V; sisters Margaret P. House and Mary Bernice Harris; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her brother Frank Edward Perkins, Jr. and sisters Ruth P. Hazelton and Betty P. Lewis-Caulder. A memorial service will be held at Brookneal Baptist Church, Brookneal, VA at 2:00 pm on July 22, 2023. Private interment will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial donation to Brookneal Baptist Church, P.O. Box 366, Brookneal, VA 24528 or the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network – https://www.pancan.org.