Barbara Dawson Brown

Barbara Dawson Brown, 91, of Lynchburg, passed away Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at Greenview Manor. Thrice married, her first husband was the late Bobbie D. Smith, second husband the late Essex E. Burks and lastly Frederick “Fred” D. Brown. 

Born December 16, 1933, in Hopewell, VA, she was a daughter of the late Hunter Kennon Dawson and Lula Elizabeth Mix Dawson. Barbara was a long time active and dedicated member of Inglewood Baptist Church, where she sang in the choir for sixty-three years as well as cooking delicious meals for church activities.  She and Essex were owners of a market in Coleman Falls. She was a dedicated homemaker, wife, and mother. Barbara had many talents other than singing in the choir. She was an accomplished seamstress taught by her mother at an early age as well as being an award-winning quilter. 

She is survived by two sons, Robert Steven Smith and Martin Craig Smith; two daughters, Deborah Smith Beach (John) and Lynn Smith Hover (Robert); two stepchildren, Dennis Craig Burks (Jeanne) and Denise Burks Mignogna (Gary); seventeen grandchildren and twenty great- grandchildren and one great -great grandchild. She was preceded in death by two brothers, William Oliver Dawson, Hunter Kennon Dawson, Jr. and one sister, Carroll Dawson Bowen. 

The family wishes to thank Greenview Manor and CENTRA Hospice for their care and loving kindness. 

A visitation will be held on Monday, September 22, 2025, from 6-8 PM at Diuguid Waterlick Chapel (21914 Timberlake Rd.). The funeral service will be held Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at 11:00 AM at Inglewood Baptist Church. 

 The interment will be in Virginia Memorial Park at 1:30 PM. 

Memorial contributions may be made to Inglewood Baptist Church, 4830 Old Boonsboro Rd., Lynchburg, VA 24503. 

Online condolences may be made at www.diuguidfuneralservice.com. 

Diuguid Waterlick Chapel, 434-237-2722, is serving the family.