Martha Holland Hicks Stover

Martha Holland (Holly) Hicks Stover, of Roanoke, passed away unexpectedly on January 24, 2009. Holly was born on September 19, 1950. She was predeceased by her parents, Byron and Agnes Hicks. She is survived by her loving and devoted husband, Richard Stover; her sister, Celia Hicks Gehring and husband, Don, of Richmond; as well as her niece, Kathleen; nephew, Matthew and his wife, Anne Wesley and their sons, Thompson and Wright Gehring, all of Richmond. Additionally she is survived by Richard's siblings, Cookie, Suzanne and Bill; her aunts, Eleanor Whorley, of Lowry, Janet Carter, of Milford, Kay Hicks, of Lynchburg, her aunt Meda and uncle Thomas Hicks of Bedford; 18 cousins; her dear friends, who were like family to her, Erik, Violeta, Benjamin and Brendan Page, Alan and Rita Bennett, also survive her. Holly graduated from Patrick Henry High School, Southern Seminary and Virginia Western Community College. She was a devoted member of St. John's Episcopal Church, where she and Richard thoroughly enjoyed working on various volunteer committees. We will dearly miss her ready smile, sense of humor and her sweet and kind nature. A celebration of her life will be held at St. John's Episcopal Church, 11 a.m., on Wednesday, January 28, 2009, with the Rev. Barkley Thompson officiating. Interment is private. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, January 27, 2009, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Oakey's Roanoke Chapel, 318 Church Ave. SW, Roanoke. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to St. John's Episcopal Church, 1 Mountain Ave. SW, Roanoke, Va. 24016.