B.E. Cowling Jr.

B.E. Cowling Jr., 79, passed away Monday, April 3, 2006 at Southside Regional Medical Center in Petersburg, Virginia. Born July 23, 1926 in Surry County, Va., he was a son of the late Burnice E. Cowling Sr., and Edna Branch Cowling. He was a farmer for many years and built and operated Cowling's Barbecue in Waverly for 20 years. "B.E." was a member of the Rocky Hock United Methodist Church; one of the original founders of Beaverdam Sportsman's Club; and a former member of the Farmer's Hunt Club. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Anne White Cowling; their son, Vance Everett Cowling; and their daughter, Brenda C. Raiford and her husband, Marvin; their six grandchildren, Katy, Patti, and Michael Cowling, Laura Raiford, Wes Raiford, Jennifer Corl and husband, Jamie; one great-granddaughter, Jessica Corl; and his sister, Dorothy Moody and husband, Joe. He was predeceased by sisters, Nell Rogers, Frances Lowe, Edna Schwichtenberg, and brother, Albert Cowling. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, April 5, 2006 at 2 p.m. in the Purviance Funeral Home Chapel, Wakefield, with the Rev. Joy Heaton officiating. Interment will follow in Wakefield Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday evening, 6:30 until 8:30 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to the Rocky Hock United Methodist Church, c/o Mabel Johnson, 1629 Aberdeen Rd., Wakefield, Va. 23888, or Waverly Congregational Christian Church, P.O. Box 636, Waverly, Va. 23890; or the Waverly Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 583, Waverly, Va. 23890. Purviance Funeral Home, Wakefield, assisted the family with arrangements.