Our mom, Audrey Bailey Rowe made her earthly debut January 11, 1939, (until age 62, she thought her birthday was January 10) and made her Heavenly debut Wednesday, July 1, 2026. She was 87 years old. Mom voiced her desire to go home for months stating her nightly prayer was, “Lord you know my life, come get me tonight.” She would be upset the next morning voicing, “She did not understand why Jesus would not come get her.” The residents yesterday at Heritage Hall were repeating to us her prayers each night.

Mom was born to Charlie Bailey and Macie Mae Stacy Bailey (deceased); she graduated high school in 1958. She and dad married June 21, 1958, a date shared by my sister Donna for a birthday. Mom always said, “Dad got a Father’s Day gift and a baby girl that day”. Mom was a hard worker, and she was a stay-at-home mom/wife. She took this very serious, our home was spotless. She enjoyed gardening, she would say, “When I get tired of stringing green beans, this will be better than snow dads in the winter”. “Donna and Jesse did the churning butter in a gallon jar, and that butter was good on biscuits.”

Mom and dad were married for 64 years when dad died. Joey Davis stated to me on Wednesday, “There was dad, mom, Bible, and a ford truck” and that was the truth. They spent every possible moment together. Mom never had a peaceful moment after dad passed. She told me about what I assumed was a dream, she said, “Dad came home last night, that she felt him sit on the bed.” She told her Jesus to let him comfort her, but he wouldn’t be back until she came home, and he would come with Jesus to get her. That dream gave her so much comfort.

Mom and dad were blessed with me (Dinah), Jesse (deceased) and Donna. They raised us with a strong work ethic, they were not afraid to spank when necessary. They were wonderful parents. I never knew mom was a professional stalker until her granddaughter Vanessa was born. Early in the morning I would open the door, and she would be sitting on the porch. Donnie and I could not leave the house, because she would be waiting in the yard to keep the baby. I never knew how she did this, they did not have cameras then.

Mom shared her real birthday with Valerie, when the baby was two weeks overdue, she commented, “You will have the baby on my birthday.” I did! Mom and dad had many blessings, Anthony Adams was the grandson from day one; they adored him. He would do anything for them, and they appreciated it greatly. Anthony held mom’s hand as she left this earth.

They were blessed with five grandchildren. They loved them dearly, but when the great-grandkids arrived it was a whole new ballgame. In their 70’s, they babysit three of the grandbabies, Jayden, Brycen, and Tayleigh. They were so proud to be able to do this. Brycen would say, “I am a Jesus man like my pawpaw.” Mom would make biscuits and gravy every day or whatever the kids wanted. The word “no” was not used. Really, those were different parents than I had.

Mom was preceded in death by our dad and her husband, Henry Rowe; her son, Jesse Rowe; son-in-law, she and dad considered a son, Donnie Stacy; and grand son-in-law, Jefferey Justus. She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Veneda, Violet, Erma, Ester, and Agnes; brothers, Oval and Edward; and three infant brothers.

She is survived by her daughters, Dinah (Jim) Appleton of Grundy, VA, and Donna (Danny) Thompson of Morristown, TN; grandchildren, Vanessa Stacy Justus of Hurley, VA, Valerie (Anthony) Adams of Grundy, VA, Donnie (Jessica) Stacy of Hurley, VA, Jessica (Geoffrey) McGregor of Deridder, LA, and Christy (Alexandra) Ochoa of Washington, DC; great-grandchildren, Jared (Cari) Justus, Jayden Justus, Jacob Stacy, Brycen Adams, Jayma Stacy, Tayleigh Adams, Shasta (Cody) Kinsey, Shane (Katie) Adams, Kenneth Adams, and Tristan Anderson; great-great-grandchildren, Emmett Ray Justus, Brantley Adams, and Cooper Kinsey; brother, Joe Roger Bailey of Lebanon, VA; special brother-in-law, Junior Rowe; and sister-in-law, Flora Rowe.

There will be a service for Audrey Bailey Rowe on Monday, July 6, 2026, 7:00 P.M. at the Virginia Funeral Home Chapel, Grundy, Virginia, with Eugene Whited and Truitt Blanenship officiating. The family will receive friends at 6:00 P.M.

A funeral service will be conducted on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, 12:00 noon at the Virginia Funeral Home Chapel, Grundy, Virginia.

Burial will follow at the Mountain Valley Memorial Park, Big Rock, Virginia.

Serving as pallbearers will be family and friends.

The Virginia Funeral Home of Grundy, Virginia, is honored to serve the family of Audrey Bailey Rowe.