Eleanor (Stevie) Stephens Thomas Dovel

As a child growing up in Richmond, Virginia, Stevie Dovel watched her   mother manage the household, care for her children, and work outside the home, while at the same time actively helping others by volunteering in community organizations. Stevie saw value in her Mother’s pursuits and has successfully followed in her footsteps.

After graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School, where she played on the tennis team, she attended Converse College.  Stevie married in 1958 and moved to Lynchburg later that year. Eventually, her family grew to include three sons and one daughter and throughout their growing years Stevie supported them in all of their activities, while also holding various part-time jobs.  Today, son E. W. and his wife Billie Lee live in Florida and Scott and wife Debbie reside in Georgia.  Todd calls Staunton home, but Stevie says that traveling related to his job means he is never home. Stevie’s daughter, Julie Zeller, resides in Roanoke. Thanks to her children, she has eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Stevie’s past and current involvement in the greater Lynchburg community is extensive. Over the years she has held membership and leadership positions on several boards, such as the Central Virginia Mental Health Association, Family Service, Lynchburg Sports Capitol of Virginia, the Lynchburg Museum, and Lynch’s Landing, today known as Downtown Association.  She has served as a volunteer for Meals on Wheels and Daily Bread and assists with various activities through her church, St. John’s Episcopal Church.

 In 1981, Stevie embarked on what became 32 years of working outside of the home.  For four years she held the position of Director of Development at Westminster Canterbury Lynchburg and from 1984 through 1998  was the Director of Tourism for the City of Lynchburg.  She ended her career as Director of Virginia Association of Conventions and Visitor Bureaus, retiring in 2003.

For fun and physical activity Stevie exercises and gardens, and then relaxes by watching sports events.  In fact, some of the ferns and other attractive plants now in the ground at WC came from Stevie’s yard.  To round out her day Stevie belongs to three bridge clubs and one garden club.