Poovey, Edna

Edna Davis Poovey, age 93, died Tuesday, March 1, 2011. She is survived by a son, Robert Lee Poovey, III and wife, Marsha Crosby Poovey of Gastonia; a sister, Jere Davis Hughlett of Chattanooga, TN; a grandson, William Matthew Poovey and wife, Melissa Hood Poovey of Charlotte; two great grandchildren, Annabelle Stuart Poovey and William Sherod Poovey. She was also preceded in death by a grandson, Robert Lee Poovey, IV. Born December 29, 1917 in Thorpe, WV, she was a daughter of the late Norm S. and Leona June Hillenburg Davis. She held a major in music and a minor in art from Sullins College in Bristol, VA and was a noted violinist. She was also Miss Bristol, Virginia in the mid 1930‘s. As a violinist, Edna and her friend, Tennessee Ernie Ford, had a daily radio program at WOPI Radio in Bristol. She would provide the musical background and he would provide the vocals. In 1939 she was selected in a Scarlett O’Hara look-alike contest, and was escorted to the Richmond, Virginia premier of “Gone With The Wind” by Confederate General Howe. She wore the same green dress that was made from the draperies of “Tara” and worn by Vivian Leigh in her role as Scarlett O’Hara. She even had a 19 1/2 inch waist, which was necessary to wear the dress. In the summer of 1938 she met Robert Lee “Bob” Poovey, Jr. and they were married on December 28, 1940. He preceded her in death on August 30, 1989 Memorials are requested for the First United Methodist Church, 101 W. Church St., Laurinburg, NC 28352. Visitation will be 11:00 a.m. until noon at the McDougald Funeral Home and Crematorium. A graveside service will be 12:15 p.m. Saturday at Hillside Memorial Park officiated by the Rev. Ralph Brown.