Ocie Lowe Mayhew

Ocie Lowe Mayhew, age 81 of Moneta, VA, passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by family on October 7, 2025.

Ocie was born in Iaeger, WV as the thirteenth out of fourteen children in a loving, unified family. As a coal miner’s daughter, she grew up on a family farm in a hollow that she fondly recanted stories of sibling shenanigans, Bible stories, hard work, lessons about honesty and integrity, all in the context of love. Later on, Ocie moved to Roanoke, VA and worked for General Electric where she eventually met her husband John and a circle of amazing, lifetime friends. After a romantic courtship, Ocie and John married and started their own family with the birth of Michelle. As a loving mom, Ocie created fun memories doing water activities at their Smith Mountain lake home, traveling for beach and ski trips, as well as taking Blue Ridge Parkway picnics and hikes. Subsequently, Ocie’s pride and joy were her two granddaughters, Emma and Sarah. As their Gran, she cherished every moment, big or small, she spent with them from sleepover movies with little Cokes and popcorn to holiday decorations and celebrations.

Through the years, Ocie and John partnered to launch and manage two successful valve and controls companies where she was the CFO and Controller, L&M Valve Company and Dominion Controls. However, she mastered a good work - life balance. Ocie loved to host get togethers, read, hike, garden, photography, water ski, puzzles and spoil the latest baby of the family.

She chose to live a life of meaningful acts of love and service, like Christ modeled for us. She volunteered at local soup kitchens, led donation drives and traveled for mission work. She had strong morals, made time to help others and was a bright, positive, authentic light. Ocie was an active member of Mt. Ivy Christian Church in Moneta, VA for over 45 years as a Sunday School teacher, children’s ministry volunteer and event planner.

Ocie is survived and missed by her faithful husband of 55 years, John, her devoted daughter Michelle Barnhart, and loyal son-in-law Erik Barnhart.  She is remembered lovingly by her cherished granddaughters Emma and Sarah Barnhart. She is also survived by her tight-knit sisters, Rena Marsico and Reva Puckett, her brother Tom (Dena) Lowe, sisters-in-law Hazel (Okey) Lowe and Catherine Welsch and brother-in-law Larry Mayhew. Ocie is loved by dozens of adoring nieces, nephews.

She is preceded in death by her loving parents, Dorsie Alexander Lowe and Mabel Lester Lowe. She was predeceased by siblings and their spouses Fred (Mabel) Lowe, Mae (Gene) Peaks, Addie (Jim) Dorsett, Roy (Ella) Lowe, Paul (Cassie) Lowe, Gladys (Virgil) Lowe, James (Clarabelle) Lowe, Okey Lowe, Joe (Claudine) Lowe, Dorothy (Bob) Barber, and brothers-in-law Tony Marsico and Virgil Puckett.

Ocie’s Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday, October 18, 2025 at Mt. Ivy Christian Church, 5120 Scruggs Rd, Moneta, VA. The family will receive friends from 12:30-2 pm. The service will take place at 2 pm, followed by a reception at 3 pm.

Please consider furthering Ocie’s legacy with a memorial donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loves us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.  2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

Arrangements by Flora Funeral Service and Cremation Center, Rocky Mount/Smith Mountain Lake.