Elizabeth "Libby" Bowman Ferrell

Elizabeth “Libby” Bowman Ferrell, December 31, 1925 – August 13, 2018

On Monday, August 13, 2018, Libby Ferrell left this earth the way she always entered a room – with grace and dignity. Libby was born in Colfax, North Carolina on December 31,1925.  The sixth child of William Edmund Bowman and Essie Tucker Bowman, Libby spent her youth in Colfax and graduated with her Registered Nursing credentials from St. Leo’s Nursing Hospital in Greensboro, NC, in 1947.  Libby loved being a nurse and worked as an emergency room nurse, a floor nurse, and in a variety of doctor’s offices before changing careers when she became a full-time mother.

Libby married the love of her life, Henry Ferrell, on July 16, 1949, and they spent fifty years in Raleigh, North Carolina, raising their family.  Libby and Henry were married for 67 years until his death just 18 months ago.  Known for their love of friends and family, Libby and Henry loved nothing better than a spontaneous get-together or a party with friends.  Libby delighted in bringing friends and family from all walks of life together and was a seasoned hostess.  Bridge parties, dance parties, cocktail parties, and the like were all more fun when Libby was in charge.

Perhaps her truest calling, Libby became a mother for the first time when her son Keith was born in 1953.  Keith was soon followed by son Edmund, and daughters Ann and Betsy.  Henry used to say that Libby raised all four of the children mostly by herself, as his career in pharmaceutical sales involved lots of travel.  Libby was a wonderful mother and was famous for many unique mothering talents.  For example, Libby made award-winning Halloween costumes, and reveled in pride when one of her children won first prize in the costume contest – which happened often.  Libby was a master of enthusiastically helping with any emergency from last minute school projects to boyfriend or girlfriend heartbreaks to cheerfully being willing to “take AND pick up” from any school or social event when other mothers were just too busy.   Libby was not just a nurse at work, she was the neighborhood nurse – all the parents brought their sick or injured children to Libby first for triage.  Libby embraced being a mother for all of her years and was still mothering her children even as advancing age took a toll on her.

As her children grew into their teenage years, Libby found a passion in the North Carolina Museum of Art, first as a docent, and ultimately as the director of the exhibit for the Blind.  She was proud of the unique “please touch” display that was created there and the part she played in it.  In addition, Libby was an enthusiastic volunteer with the Raleigh Little Theater for many years.    When her children were grown, Libby went back to work as an office nurse for several doctors in Raleigh and was beloved by staff and patients alike.

In 2000, Libby and Henry moved to Atlanta to be closer to their daughters and began a new life with new friends.  They loved their life in Georgia, and the last 18 years have been good ones for Libby.  In recent years, Libby rediscovered her love for playing the piano and spent many hours entertaining residents at the different senior living facilities with her beloved piano partner, Emma Wheat.   Libby lived at Brighton Gardens of Buckhead since late 2016, and the family sends their heartfelt thanks to the wonderful caregivers who helped to make her last years peaceful and happy.  The family is also most grateful for the loving care Libby received from Kindred Hospice.

In addition to her four children, Libby is survived by her beloved grandson Alec, daughter-in-law Martha Ferrell, loving additional daughters Hartsell Taylor and Becky Salmon, and numerous nieces, nephews, friends and extended family members.   Libby made her mark on the world in her own unique way. She was always loving and she was always loved in return. She leaves a hole in the hearts of all who knew her.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to the nursing scholarship fund at the school of your choice or the Michael J. Fox Parkinson’s Foundation.

There will be a private family service in Libby’s beloved home state of North Carolina at a later date.