Ariana Ferguson Owen

Ariana Ferguson Owen slipped peacefully from the loving arms of her family into the everlasting loving arms of her Heavenly Father on Wednesday, September 15, 2010.  She was born on May 31, 1928 in Appomattox County to the late Everette Ray Ferguson and Laura Nash Ferguson.  She was the loving wife of James Lowell Owen for 62 years.

Ariana was a graduate of Appomattox High School and Phillips Business College.  She worked as a legal assistant for 29 years for Thomas L. Phillips, Sr.  After retirement, she served as a Hospice volunteer for 10 years.

Ariana accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age and has faithfully served him through the years.  She was a charter member of Hyland Heights Baptist Church where she served in many roles, most recently as teacher of the Ladies\"™ Joy Class for the past 16 years.  She was also a member of the Auxiliary of the Gideons International for 38 years serving in many capacities at the local and state levels.

Ariana\"™s greatest joys were serving God, her family and church.  She loved to garden and grew beautiful flowers.  She especially enjoyed cooking for her family.  She touched many lives in her journey through life.  She will be remembered for her loving kindness, gentle spirit, her compassion for others and especially as a friend to the ladies of the Joy Class.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by their four loving children, Sandra Moore, and her husband Tom, of Fincastle, Brenda Lee of Williamsburg, Jim Owen of Charlotte, NC and Denise Mays of Appomattox.  Her life was blessed with wonderful times shared with her seven precious grandchildren, Ashley Schoombee and her husband, Mark, Sara Jackson and her husband Scott, Justin Lee and his wife Sloan, Erin Padgett and her husband Chris, Dustin Mays and Josh Owen; also four adorable great-grandchildren Ryan and Tyler Jackson, Barrett Lee and Emma Schoombee.  She is also survived by her sister, Marie Coleman and husband Paul of Forest, many loving nieces and nephews and cherished friends.  In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her precious grandson Cameron Mays, and two brothers, Donald and Ray Ferguson.

The family wishes to thank her oncologist, Dr. Cecilia MacCallum and caregivers of Hospice of the Hills, especially Alice Powell, Paula Hicks and Carla Kidd for their excellent care and compassion for Ariana.

A celebration of Ariana\"™s life will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, September 19, 2010 at Hyland Heights Baptist Church.  The family will receive friends on Saturday, September 18, 2010 at Hyland Heights Baptist Church from 5 \"" 7:00 p.m.

Those wishing to make memorials, please consider the Building Fund of Hyland Heights Baptist Church, 11452 Wards Road, Rustburg, VA 24588, the Gideons International, P.O. Box 178, Brookneal, VA 24528, and Hospice of the Hills, 3300 Rivermont Avenue, Lynchburg, VA 24503.