Barbara Anne Ross

Barbara Anne Richards Ross 88, of Rocky Mount, Va., went swiftly and peacefully to be with her Lord and Savior on December 14, 2021 at the Forest Health and Rehab Center in Lynchburg, Va., following an extended illness.

She was born in the Pleasant Hill Community of Franklin County, Virginia and the youngest of six children to the late Carroll Tucker Richards, Sr., and Annie B. Wells Richards on July 22, 1933.  During the Great Depression she helped with the numerous needs of her family homestead and gave care to her mother who began suffering from strokes in her 50s and when Barbara was a young girl, as did her siblings Eugene B. Richards, Carroll Tucker Richards, Jr., Hazel Wells (Garrett), John William Richards, and Mary Catherine (Beckner Kingery).  Barbara married Charles Louis Ross, Jr. of Ferrum, Va. at age 18 and had two children, Robert (Bob) and Lou Anne.

A brilliant mind, a voracious reader, an avid enthusiast of the outdoors, and a gourmet cook, her greatest joys came through her relationships with her family, friends, and the beloved fellowship with her church, Central Grace Church of Rocky Mount.

Barbara served her community for over forty years at the Leggett/Belk stores in Rocky Mount and Martinsville.

Barbara is predeceased by her husband, Charles, great grandson, Josell Ross Payne, her brothers and sisters, and is survived by two children; Robert R. Ross, of Lynchburg, VA, and Lou Anne Ross-Purnell, of Flowery Branch, GA, two grandchildren, “Alexandra” (Betsy) R. Payne of Flowery Branch, GA and Zachery A. Purnell of Denver, CO, nieces and nephews, Rebecca (John) McDonald of Greensboro, NC, Tuck (Debby) Richards of Roanoke, VA, Lucinda Richards of Rocky Mount, VA, Jimmy (Janice) Beckner of Rocky Mount, VA, Charlene (Richard) Lynch of Roanoke, VA, Tommy Beckner of Virginia Beach, VA, Katherine (Paul) Wagner of Richmond, VA, Victor (Sandie) Goudie of Roanoke, VA, Elmer E. Purnell, Jr. father of Alexandra and Zachery of Gainesville, GA, many great nieces and nephews, and a host of friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to Central Grace Church or to a charity of your choosing in Thanksgiving to God for the life of Barbara Ross.

The visitation will be held on Sunday, December 19 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Flora Funeral Home.  An outdoor service will be held on Monday, December 20 at Noon at the St. James Methodist Church burial grounds in Ferrum, Va. with the eulogy given by Paul Mahan of Central Grace Church, Rocky Mount, Va.  The family will receive friends at Franklin Restaurant immediately after the burial.