Frances Jefferson Bowman, 88, died on Friday, September 16, 2016, in Winston-Salem, N.C. where she had made her home at Salemtowne for the past two years of her life. She chose Salemtowne to be near her niece, Meg Reavis and husband, Charles Reavis, who have been her faithful and dedicated advocates through her final years.Jeff was born in Wytheville, Va. on December 19, 1927, to Bessie Turner Bowman and Isaac Pierce Bowman. She received her public school education in Carroll and Wythe counties, graduating from Wytheville High School in 1945.Preceding her in death were sisters, Nellie Bausell, Iva Manley, Oleta Beeman, Virginia Shelton, and a brother, Douglas Bowman.She is survived by her sister, Betty Inman and husband, Arthur Inman of Wytheville, Va., and her much loved nieces and nephews.Early in her career, Jeff became manager of a young and growing telephone answering service, Answering, Inc., in Washington, D.C. Featured in the Washington Post in 1954 as a young female executive, "Jeff is 26 years old, 5 feet 2 inches tall with a fetching Southern accent. She manages 35-40 telephone operators including office staff in Washington, D.C. and also manages branches of the company throughout the South." Under her leadership, the business expanded to major Southern cities in the United States, Jamaica, and London, England. For many years she maintained residences in Washington, D.C. and London.After retirement she returned to her beloved southwest Virginia and resided in Wytheville, Va. where she became a member of St. John's Episcopal Church. Her pride in her Virginia heritage kept her busy in many patriotic organizations including the Jamestown Society, Daughters of the Founders and Patriots, Daughters of the American Revolution, and Daughters of the Confederacy. Along with her passion for travel, she was a prolific reader, collector, and antiquarian with no boundaries in her interests in literature, art, history and music; but Virginia remained her primary focus.A graveside memorial services will be conducted by the Rev. Brad Simpson with burial in the family cemetery at Laurel Fork, Carroll County, Va. at a later date.Memorials gifts may be made to the Wytheville Training School and Cultural Center, 410 Franklin Street, Wytheville, VA 24382 or to Salemtowne, 1000 Salemtowne Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27106 or to the charity of your choice.The family is being assisted by Salem Funerals and Cremations in Winston-Salem, NC and Vaughan-Guynn-McGrady Funeral Service in Hillsville, VA.