In Loving Memory of Snow Earsley Keene

Snow Earsley Keene was born on March 22, 1926, in South Hill, Virginia to Beverly Bell and Susie Green. She lived a remarkable 100 years, witnessing a century of change while building a life grounded in faith, family, and determination.

Snow was united in marriage to Douglas Walker Keene, and from their union came their only child, Douglas Clinton Keene. The family made their home in St. Albans, New York, where they lived for many years before Snow eventually returned to Virginia. Her return to Virginia brought her closer to the place where she was born and provided the setting for many cherished summer memories with her grandchildren.

A woman devoted to her faith, Snow began her spiritual journey as a Baptist and later became a Seventh-day Adventist. Her commitment to the Lord was an important part of her life. She found joy in music and worship, often spending hours at her piano practicing choir selections in preparation for Sunday service. She also enjoyed thoughtful and spirited conversations about scripture and religious teachings. Snow and her beloved sister, Etta Maureen Bell, affectionately known as Maureen to adults and Aunt Mimi to her nieces and nephews, shared a close bond and could spend hours debating the Sabbath and discussing matters of faith with family and friends.

Snow was an avid gardener who took pride in her expansive vegetable garden. She cultivated an abundance of produce, including cucumbers, cantaloupes, squash, tomatoes, butter beans, and peas. Gardening was one of her favorite pastimes, and she especially shared the fruits of her labor with her sister, Maureen.

Snow also had a longstanding affection for dogs and was rarely without at least two on her property. They were a familiar and unmistakable part of her home and a reflection of her fondness for having them around.

Her commitment to learning continued into adulthood, and during the 1980s, she earned an Associate of Science degree in Nursing, an accomplishment that reflected her determination and desire to pursue higher education.

Snow will be remembered as an outspoken and strong-willed woman who held firmly to her convictions and was never afraid to express her thoughts. She lived life in her own way, with a personality that made her unmistakable herself.

Snow was preceded in death by her parents, Beverly Bell and Susie Green; her siblings; her husband, Douglas Walker Keene; and her only child, Douglas Clinton Keene.

She leaves to cherish her memory her granddaughters: Elena Newkirk, Christina Jackson, and Tawanna Keene; her cousin, Martha Jones; her great-grandchildren: Chase, Kiara, and Aaminah; a host of nephews and one niece, and other extended family members and loved ones.