CUMBERLAND, May 29 – The Lord sent a special gift to Irene and Kenneth Ranson on February 21, 1946. That gift was in the form of Sue Ranson Dowdy. She honored Christ by her giving heart and bubbly hospitality to all. Her greeting cards touched all that received them and everyone that came into contact with her was treated like a friend. She was truly an Angel on earth.

Her favorite season was Christmas because she loved to give of herself. Snowmen, “The Legendary Santa,” and a game of Solitaire will always remind those that knew her best of a kind heart. She grew up in Dillwyn but settled with her husband in Cumberland.

She was a substitute teacher for many years at Cumberland County Public Schools, an administrative assistant for the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Soil and Water. Mrs. Dowdy also served as Cumberland's elected Soil and Water Representative for two terms. She worked at Stack Pole and Longwood College. She was a loving mother and grandmother and went out of her way to make everyone she met gleam with joy.

Mrs. Dowdy returned to the Lord on Friday, May 25, 2012, and she will be greatly missed.

She is survived by her loving husband George Jr.; brother, Radford Ranson; son, Lee Dowdy; daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Dowdy; daughter, Joellen Franklin; son-in-law, Timmy Franklin; and three wonderful granddaughters, Logan Franklin, and Rozelia and Jesse Dowdy; niece, Samantha Scialdo; nephews, Zach and Elijah Ranson; as well as many cousins around the country and friends. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Irene and Kenneth Ranson, her oldest sister, Patricia, and twin brother, Tommy.

A funeral service was held Tuesday, May 29 at Fitzgerald Memorial Baptist Church with interment at Center Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Cumberland.

Puckett Funeral Home, Farmville, served the family. www.puckettfh.com