On Dec. 21, 2017, Anne Downs was thrilled to be able to go home to Heaven and be reunited with so many loved ones.

Anne was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, on Aug. 22, 1928 to Thomas and Rose Vogellus Parker. She was the oldest of five children. She was a highly intelligent, feisty, Irish woman.

At 16, Anne went to work in the office of Hercules Ship Repair, which was situated on the Hudson River in New York. While working there she met a cute sailor from Mathews, Virginia, who was waiting to ship out on the Midway. He changed her life. 

She married Thomas Raymond Downs Jr. on Feb. 9, 1946. They were married for 54 years. They spent the first half of their marriage in New Jersey where they started D&P Embroidery Co., Inc., with Ray’s brother Bill, who was married to Anne’s best friend, Ruth. Eventually, they moved the business back to Mathews, setting up their shop in Cobbs Creek. Anne worked there for many years as the bookkeeper.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ray, and her brothers, Tom, Ed and Gene Parker. She is survived by her sister, Delores Rose Gorman, and children, Thomas R. Downs III (Suzanne), Linda Downs Hicks (Jamie) and John William Downs (Donna). She is also survived by grandchildren, Kathy Downs Chandler (Paul Hudgins), Thomas R. Downs IV (Meghan), Kelly Downs Smith (Tyrone), Bruce W. Love, Elizabeth Love George (Aaron), Kevin T. Love and fiancée Tiffany Thurston, David John Downs (Jen) and Jared Downs (Amy). She was also blessed with 17 great-grandchildren, who loved her dearly, and many nieces and nephews who meant so much to her.

While Anne and Ray lived in Mathews, they were members of Old Baptist Church in Hudgins for many years. After retiring to the “Chesapeake” in Newport News they became members of Temple Baptist Church.

The family received friends on Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017, from 7-8:30 p.m. at Faulkner Funeral Homes & Cremation Service, Foster-Faulkner Chapel, Mathews. A funeral service was conducted on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2017, at 11 a.m. at the funeral home with burial at H.C. Smither Cemetery, Hudgins, Virginia. The service was conducted by his son, John W. Downs.