Elwanda Oxley Brown

Elwanda Oxley Brown Surrounded by family, Elwanda Lucille Oxley Brown died December 2, 2010, in Thomas Memorial Hospital after complications from a long illness; she was 71. Elwanda was born July 4, 1939 in St. Albans. She grew up in Putnam County and graduated from Hurricane High School. Later, she achieved her dream of becoming an RN when she completed her degree at Morris Harvey College. She was a registered nurse at Thomas Memorial Hospital for seventeen years before she moved to Texas. She practiced nursing for another two years before an accident ended her nursing career. Elwanda confronted her physical liabilities with steadfast dignity. Chronic pain did not keep her from her friends, family, or hobbies. She was quick to help her neighbors and friends with everything from acting as chauffeur for a neighbor, to babysitting a grandchild, or preparing a feast. Besides her family, Elwanda found joy in art and social networking. For years, she painted with the senior citizens groups at Nitro and Hansford completing hundreds of works in oil and acrylic. Elwanda is preceded in death by her parents, Virgie Alva Edwards and Oral Homer Oxley, and her sister Aredith Athalee Oxley. She is survived by her sibling and their spouses: Jeanette and Jerry Withrow of Hurricane, Janice and Larry Sayer of Nitro, Diane Serjern of Kenosha, Wisconsin, and Paul and Carolyn Oxley of Hurricane. In addition, she leaves three children and their spouses: Sharon and Bill Stark of Henderson, North Carolina, Leland and Mara Brown, of St. Albans, and Devonne Parsons of Red House. Elwanda also leaves her six grandchildren; Luke Stark, Anderson Stark, Nick Parsons, Ian Parsons, Leland Brown II and Marlee Brown. Gracie, her beloved four-legged companion will miss her greatly. Funeral Service will be held at 2:00pm Sunday December 5, 2010 at Bartlett-Chapman Funeral Home, 409 Sixth Avenue, St. Albans. Burial will follow in Bird Cemetery, Hurricane. Friends and relatives may call from 6-8pm Saturday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations to the Nitro Senior Citizen Center, P.O. Box 44 Nitro, WV 25143 be made in her honor. Visit www.bartlettchapmanfuneralhomes.com to share memories or to express condolences. Bartlett-Chapman Funeral Home, St. Albans