Virginia “Toby” Britt Rowe passed away on Sunday, May 4, 2025 at Piedmont Medical Center in Fort Mill. She was 90 years young and she lived her life on her terms. She cooked her own meals, exercised daily and twice a week at her local med spa. She did her own grocery shopping and banking every week thanks to her personal chauffeur and daughter Sheree Epps. Toby was a fierce prayer warrior. She felt prayer was best accomplished on one’s knees and spent hours in prayer and devotion. If she told you she would pray for you she meant it. Her prayer journal is extensive, as was her card ministry. She faithfully encouraged people with cards and notes.
Toby was born on October 14, 1934, in Deland Florida to Samuel Lee Britt and Irene Briscoe Britt. The family of three settled in Wewahitchka Florida. Irene’s parents had moved to Florida after losing everything during the Great Depression and the home was turned into a rooming house. Most of the roomers were teachers in the local school which meant that Toby never had an excuse for not doing her homework or not being prepared for a test. She grew up in a small sleepy southern town and after high school she attended nursing school where she met the love of her life, Mitch Rowe. Married at the age of 19 and 21 they immediately started a family.
In 1955 they decided along with many other young families to move to Rock Hill to work at the newly opened Bowaters Paper Mill and make a life for themselves. They both fell in love with the area and turned down numerous opportunities to transfer to other paper mills. Mitch coached little league baseball and spent four to five days a week coaching young boys and teaching the value of hard work. Toby volunteered countless hours at Piedmont Medical Center, receiving an award for the most volunteer hours. She also worked in the office at Richmond Drive Elementary School under Principal Vincent Butler.
Married for 64 years, there were good times and there were bad times but throughout it all their marriage endured and their love for one another grew. When Mitch’s health began to decline Toby was the best nurse one could want. She tended to his every need with care and love. Toby is now joined with Christ in Heaven along with all the faithful that preceded her such as her beloved son Michael Wesley “Wes” Rowe, and her half sister Jean Hubbard.
Surviving are her two daughters, Melanie Rowe and Sheree Epps (Tommy); five grandsons, Mark Epps, Tyler Epps, Sam Epps (Meredith), Mitch Rowe, Taylor Rowe, and her granddaughter Chelsea Jones. She has 11 great grandchildren.
This is a short synopsis of the life of a beloved mother, grandmother, and friend. Please join us for a service celebrating the life of Toby on June 24, 2025, at 11:00 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1320 India Hook Road in Rock Hill, SC with Reverend Doctor Michael Honeycutt officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the service in Westminster Hall.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Toby’s name to Westminster Presbyterian Church, Missions Fund, 1300 India Hook Rd, Rock Hill, SC 29732 or to Hospice & Community Care, PO Box 993, Rock Hill, SC 29731.