Obituary of Velma H. Downs

Mrs. Velma Hatten Downs, age 99, of Chestnut Drive in Blowing Rock, and formerly of Payne Branch Road, died Monday morning, March 17, 2008 at the Davant Extended Care Facility. Born in Watauga County February 22, 1909, she was a daughter of the late Ulysses and Sally McGee Hatten. Velma was a homemaker and a member of Cool Springs Baptist Church. Surviving are one son; Scott Gragg of Blowing Rock, one sister, Dorothy Norris and husband Ralph of Boone, two granddaughters; Judy Phillips of Boone and Sharon Downs-Snow of Kernersville, four grandsons; Jimmy Downs of New York, David Downs of High Shoals, Danny Downs of Charlotte, and Tommy Roach of Lexington five great grandchildren and one daughter-in-law, Tsuneko Downs of Boone. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Clyde Downs, two daughters; Betty Ruth Downs and Ruby Roach, two sons; J. C. and Bill Downs, four sisters; Gladys Auton, Myrtie Andrews, Ellie Andrews, and Mary Hatten, two brothers, Don and Charlie Hatten. Funeral services for Mrs. Velma Hatten Downs will be conducted Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel. Officiating will be Rev. Max West. Burial will follow in the Cool Springs Baptist Church Cemetery. Flowers are accepted or memorials may be made to Cool Springs Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, Post Office Box 1532, Boone, NC 28607. The family respectfully requests no food. The family will receive friends Wednesday afternoon prior to the service from 1 until 2 o'clock at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home. Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Downs family.