Madeline L. Spain

Madeline Lewis Spain, 73, formerly of Colonial Heights, died Friday, Dec. 31, 2010, in Fayetteville, N.C., following a period of declining health.

Born Aug. 5, 1937, Mae Madeline Lewis was the daughter of the late William H. and Alma Dalton Lewis of Church Road. She attended Dinwiddie County Public Schools, graduating in 1954 from the old Midway High School. Following high school, she immediately went to work as a dental assistant in Petersburg. Later, she entered civil service, working at the Fort Lee Dental Clinic for more than 20 years. During her civil service career, she completed the coursework required to become a dental hygienist and worked in that capacity for several years.

Madeline pursued many interests during her lifetime. She was creative, organized and lived her life to the fullest, in spite of living with diabetes for 53 years. She has operated a doll repair business and sold antiques and collectibles. She loved music, dancing, good food and her family and friends. She was always ready to listen and offer words of support and encouragement.

Madeline is survived by: her daughter and son-in-law, Debbie Rowland Bumgarner and Tony of Wade, N.C.; her son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Karen Rowland of Church Road; four grandchildren, Chris Bumgarner, Kelly Revels and husband, John, Jeffrey Bumgarner, all of the Fayetteville, N.C. area, and Jacob Rowland of Church Road; one brother, William Joseph Lewis of Hopewell; two sisters, Edna Lewis Williams and Patricia Lewis Sharpf, both of Church Road; one niece, Dianne Williams Cales of Colonial Heights; three nephews, Russell Williams of Colonial Heights, Michael Williams and Matthew Sharpf, both of Church Road; one aunt, Mrs. Leonard H. Lewis (Dot) of Ford; numerous cousins and other relatives and friends.

A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011, inside the Mausoleum at Southlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum, 1911 Birdsong Road, Petersburg, with the Rev. Gordon Lee, pastor of Poole Christian Church, Church Road, Va., officiating. The family will receive friends from noon to 1 prior to the service.

Flowers are welcome and may be delivered to the Southlawn Memorial Park Mausoleum on the morning of the service; however, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association (www.diabetes.org); or to the Ford Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 86, Church Road, VA 23833

The family is being served by the Jernigan Warren Funeral Home in Fayetteville, N.C.