Julia Albertha Griswell Towe was born June 4, 1921 in Tyrell County. She was the daughter of the late Herman and Mary Lewis Griswell. She was called to be with the Lord on February 18, 2014.

She was a member of Chapel Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Columbia, NC. She was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Order of the Eastern Star Queen Esther Jewel Chapter #32, graduate of Elizabeth City State Teachers College, received her Masters from New York University, lifetime member of NAACP, Bluebird Club, NEA, NCAE, and Washington County Retired Teachers Association.

Survivors include husband of 60 years Edison L. Towe, Jr., sons- Edison L Towe, III (Lynn) and Herman F. Towe (Stacie) both of Charlotte, NC., daughter- Minister Mary Towe- Charlotte, NC., brother- Erskine Griswell (Helena)- Piscataway, NJ., sisters- Doris Waiters (Willie)- Washington, DC., Vera Brown- Norfolk, VA., Yvonne Davis (Henry)- Madison, Ala., brother-in-law- James S. Midgette, Sr.- Elizabeth City, NC., sister-in-laws- Vivian Towe Evelyn- Port Chester, NY., Princeton Towe McDowell- Plymouth, NC., three grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Funeral services were 1:00PM Saturday February 22, 2014 at Chapel Hill Missionary Baptist Church with Reverend James Rodgers, officiating, Minister Mary Towe, eulogist. Burial followed in Toodle's Cemetery.