Obituary for Mamie Lewis Sleeper (Lewis)
Mamie Lewis Sleeper, age 87, of Roanoke, Virginia, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 11, 2022.
She was predeceased by her parents, Elwood and Gracie Lewis; brother, Carl Lewis; sister, Hazel Motley; son, James Shelton; and her loving husband of 32 years, C. Freeman Sleeper.
She is survived by her two children, Dale Shelton and Cheree Shelton; stepdaughter, Deborah Lannen and her husband, John; three stepsons, Paul Sleeper and his wife, Lisa, Jonathan Sleeper and his wife, Heidi Avery, and Mark Sleeper; as well as 8 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.
Mamie was born on Wednesday, March 20,1935, in Chatham, Virginia. After raising her three children, she joined the staff at Roanoke College in 1969, working there until 1987. Then, at the age of 52, she made a career change to become a flight attendant for Piedmont Airlines. She continued to fly with Piedmont (and later US Airways) until her retirement in 2001. After retiring, she and her husband C. Freeman Sleeper, returned to the Roanoke Valley, where they continued to attend both sporting events and performing arts events at Roanoke College. They also became involved in the Salem Presbyterian Church community. Mamie enjoyed singing in the church choir at SPC and volunteering at The Discovery Shop in Roanoke through the beginning of the COVID-pandemic. She loved spending time with her friends from Roanoke College, SPC, and the Discovery Shop, and dearly loved her family. She will be greatly missed.
The family will receive friends at the visitation from 12 Noon to 2 p.m. and then again from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, May 20, 2022, at the John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home (305 Roanoke Boulevard in Salem, Va.). A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 21, 2022, at Salem Presbyterian Church (41 E. Main Street in Salem, Va.). A reception will follow.
The family would like to thank the caring staff at The Harmony Collection at Pheasant Ridge for their help this past year. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Roanoke College or Salem Presbyterian Church. Online condolences may be expressed at www.johnmoakey.com.
She was predeceased by her parents, Elwood and Gracie Lewis; brother, Carl Lewis; sister, Hazel Motley; son, James Shelton; and her loving husband of 32 years, C. Freeman Sleeper.
She is survived by her two children, Dale Shelton and Cheree Shelton; stepdaughter, Deborah Lannen and her husband, John; three stepsons, Paul Sleeper and his wife, Lisa, Jonathan Sleeper and his wife, Heidi Avery, and Mark Sleeper; as well as 8 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.
Mamie was born on Wednesday, March 20,1935, in Chatham, Virginia. After raising her three children, she joined the staff at Roanoke College in 1969, working there until 1987. Then, at the age of 52, she made a career change to become a flight attendant for Piedmont Airlines. She continued to fly with Piedmont (and later US Airways) until her retirement in 2001. After retiring, she and her husband C. Freeman Sleeper, returned to the Roanoke Valley, where they continued to attend both sporting events and performing arts events at Roanoke College. They also became involved in the Salem Presbyterian Church community. Mamie enjoyed singing in the church choir at SPC and volunteering at The Discovery Shop in Roanoke through the beginning of the COVID-pandemic. She loved spending time with her friends from Roanoke College, SPC, and the Discovery Shop, and dearly loved her family. She will be greatly missed.
The family will receive friends at the visitation from 12 Noon to 2 p.m. and then again from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, May 20, 2022, at the John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home (305 Roanoke Boulevard in Salem, Va.). A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 21, 2022, at Salem Presbyterian Church (41 E. Main Street in Salem, Va.). A reception will follow.
The family would like to thank the caring staff at The Harmony Collection at Pheasant Ridge for their help this past year. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Roanoke College or Salem Presbyterian Church. Online condolences may be expressed at www.johnmoakey.com.