Rosemary J. Ramsey

Rosemary J Ramsey, 74, of Alton, Virginia, died Sunday, February 2, 2020, after a brief but courageous battle with pancreas cancer. She was surrounded and comforted by her husband, Carlyle, and their two children Stephanie Ramsey Ferrugia and David Ramsey.  Rosemary attended Miami Christian School, Miami Dade Community College and FSU—though she was an avid Florida Gator.  She is a dedicated Christian and member of First Baptist Church in South Boston, VA.   She is preceded in death by her mother and father, Russell and Jean Donnelly of Naples, FL.  She is survived by her husband, Carlyle, of Alton; daughter, Stephanie, of Alton, and son, David, of Greensboro, NC.  She has three grandchildren, Ramsey Jane Ferrugia, 14, of Alton; grandsons, Reid, 3, and William, 1, who live in Greensboro with David (son) and Emily Ramsey, daughter-in-law.  She is also survived by four siblings, Louise Hunter of Naples, FL; Carol Houck of Port St. Lucie, FL; brother David Donnelly of  Chicago, IL, and Lynda Dellinger of Baton Rouge, LA.  She also had a number of nieces and nephews whom she adored. A native of Miami, FL, Rosemary met the love of her life, Carlyle, in south Florida when his family moved there from Halifax County, VA.  They remained inseparable through high school and college; they married October 31, 1965.  They ultimately moved to Alton, Carlyle’s family home, in 1987 where the two raised Stephanie and David; Rosemary started a successful career in residential real estate. She retired in 2016. A busy and extremely dedicated grandmother, she was also passionate for animal rights as a founding member of the Halifax County SPCA.  Known as “Grand” to her three beloved grandchildren, she was a self-proclaimed “cat lady.” Her family estimates that she’s rescued more than one thousand animals in need. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to First Baptist Weekday School in South Boston (at First Baptist Church) 815 North Main Street, South Boston, VA 24592 or Halifax County SPCA, PO Box 14, South Boston, VA 24592.  A Celebration of Life Service will be held at First Baptist Church of South Boston Tuesday, February 4, 2020, at 10 am.Online condolences may be made at www.powellfuneral.com. Arrangements are by Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 1603 Wilborn Avenue, South Boston, VA 24592.