Ella Mae Perkins "Maw" Slemp

Ella Mae Perkins "Maw" Slemp, 94, died Friday, Feb. 27, 2009 at Francis Marion Manor Nursing Home in Marion. She was born on June 20, 1914 in Grayson County to the late James Monroe and Della Hash Perkins. She was a member of Marion Baptist Church. She was a retired employee of the Southwestern State Hospital. She was a loving, wonderful mother and grandmother. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her former husband, Roy O. Slemp, four brothers, Carl, Grover, Guy, and Wayne Perkins, and three sisters, Ethel Harrington, Faye Noonkester, and Stella Griffin. Survivors include one daughter and son-in-law, Mavis and Roland Williams of Marion; one son and daughter-in-law, Harold and Betty Ann Slemp of Marion; two sisters, Annie Lee Cornett of Independence, and Virginia Anderson of Rising Sun, Md.; two brothers, John J. Perkins of Marion and Virginia and Ted Perkins of Stewartstown, Penn.; four grandchildren, Chris and David Slemp, Amy Walker and husband, Pat, Jennifer Yuhasz DeBow and husband, Keith; seven great-grandchildren, Thomas, Jacob, Noah, and Emma Walker, and Merrideth, Megan, and Max DeBow; three step-grandchildren; and five step-great-grandchildren; and a special friend and roommate, Stellena Slemp Poe, and lifelong friend, Josephine Blankenbeckler. Funeral services were conducted on Sunday, March 1, at 6 p.m. at Seaver-Brown Chapel with Dr. Mark Ross officiating. Private burial was held in Rose Lawn Cemetery with the Rev. Jonathan Jonas officiating. The family received friends Sunday evening following the funeral service. In lieu of flowers, the family would greatly appreciate donations be made to Marion Baptist Church where Ella Mae was a long-time, faithful member (1258 North Main Street, Marion, VA 24354) in honor of their beloved mother or to the Marion Life Saving Crew (P.O. Box 784, Marion, VA 24354). Expressions of sympathy may be made to the family at www.seaverbrown.com. Seaver-Brown Funeral Service and Crematory was in charge of arrangements.