Josephine Travis

Josephine Childress Gunnell Travis, 91, of 3663 Highway 29 North, Danville, VA, died Sunday, May 15, 2011 at Riverside Health & Rehab. Mrs. Travis was born on March 30, 1920 in Pittsylvania County to William Witcher Childress and Ellen Mitchell Childress. She had three sisters and nine half-sisters and two brothers and five half-brothers. All of her half-sisters and brothers are deceased. Josephine grew up in the Sharon community and graduated from the Whitmell High School. After high school she attended Darvou Beauty School in Danville, VA. Upon completion of her beauty training, she worked as a beautician in the Danville area. On December 23, 1939, Josephine married Harold Douglas Gunnell, In the early years of their marriage they traveled to several states because of Harold?s job as a Pipefitter. After a few years they settled in the Blairs community on Harold?s family farm where they built a house. Josephine worked for Dan River Mills for 16 years prior to becoming a full time homemaker. She was a member of Blairs Baptist Church since 1954, where she worked in the Nursery. She was a member of the W.M.U. and was attended church regularly until her health prevented her from doing so. After the death of Harold on July 4, 1984, Josephine married William ?Bill? M. Travis in 1988. He died January 16, 2007. In addition to her husbands, half-sisters and half brothers, she was predeceased by a son, H. Douglas Gunnell, Jr., a brother, Charles Childress, and two great-grandchildren. Survivors include a son, Donald S. Gunnell, and wife Barbara of Danville, VA; three daughters, Dale G. Lecik, and husband Donald of Danville, VA, Dorothy G. Lewis, and husband Richard of Hillsbrough, NC, and Patsy G. Jones, and husband Leon of Danville, VA; a brother, George Childress of Danville, VA; three sisters, Rebecca C. Guill of Danville, VA, Elsie C. McKinney of Ringgold, VA, and Kate C. Moore of Tampa, Fl; two step-sons, Kenneth Travis, and his wife Darlene of Sutherlin, VA, and Gerald Travis, Virginia Beach, VA; seven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and one step grandchild. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. from Blairs Baptist Church with the Reverend Larry Glover-Wetherington officiating. Interment will follow in Danville Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at her residence and they suggests memorials may be made to Blairs Baptist Church, 5260 U.S. Highway 29, Blairs, VA 24527 or to the Blairs Fire & Rescue, P.O. Box 242, Blairs, VA 24527. Wrenn-Yeatts, North Main Chapel is serving the Travis family.

Josephine Travis

March 30, 1920 - May 15, 2011