Eunice Ann Handy

EUNICE’S JOURNEY Eunice A. Handy was born August 23, 1948, in Atlantic, VA to the late Catherine Harmon and Grayson J. Matthews. She entered her eternal rest peacefully on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. Eunice was educated in the Accomack County Public School System. She worked for R& G Shirt Factory for over 28 years. She then continued her career at the Marine Science Consortium for years as an Assistant Chef until she retired in 2019. She often said that cousin Linda Wallop was the best boss ever. Eunice was a committed wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister who loved her family dearly. She was also a dedicated friend. Eunice was united in marriage to Morris (Pat) Handy for over 61 years. She gave her life to Christ and was a devoted member of Shiloh Baptist Church in Temperanceville, VA. She loved the Lord and showed it by serving faithfully in the Missionary Ministry, on the Finance Committee, the Women’s “Sister to Sister” and on the Cleaning Committee. She would often say that Pat is a great provider and she loves and is proud of her three girls. She loved to cook for her family and friends and when she did, she would cook enough for the entire community. She loved to watch the stories. If you called her while they were on, she would tell you to call her back when they went off. Her favorite food was seafood, which she enjoyed in all its varieties, but she especially loved hard crabs. In the latter part of her life, Eunice enjoyed traveling. She went on cruises, visited Disney World, and treasured her most memorable trip to Georgia to spend time with her grandson. She also loved gatherings with her sister and cousins, sharing meals, laughter, and spending time playing all kinds of games. Eunice was a proud and attentive mother. She lovingly referred to her daughters Serena, Juliet and Tina as her “three doll babies,” a name that reflected the constant and protective love she carried for them. Her heart grew even fuller with the arrival of her one only grandson, Brandon, who held a special place in her life, Their bond was tender and strong and when her great-granddaughter Laila arrived, Eunice embraced her with the soft, loving warmth only a great-grandmother could give, affectionately calling her “Laila Bug,” and later simply, “the bug.” A bond like theirs is rare. Eunice and her sister Gloria shared a closeness built on a lifetime of shared memories. Gloria found joy in every conversation with her, often laughing at everything her sister said. Every week, she cherished her calls with Aunt Helen, whom she lovingly considered her second mom and with her cousin Bett, who was close to her like a sister. She spent time riding out with her dear friends, Sister Bernice (Niecy) Davis and Sister Lula Johnson, affectionately called “The Golden Girls.” Later Cynthia Tull joined their circle, adding even more joy to their outings. She often talked with First Lady Davis (Mrs. D), sharing laughter and recapping what happened on the stories. Her favorite pastime was shopping and conversating. She and Priscilla would often ride to Roses. She loved to chat, but you had to watch what you said to her ...Oliver would say, “Mrs. Handy will tell you something.” She was always happy to hear from her late brother Johnny’s children, and their calls and visits meant a great deal to her. Eunice leaves to cherish warm memories: her husband, Pat Handy; three daughters, Serena Conquest Morris (Oliver), Juliet Handy, and Tina Handy; one grandson, Brandon Conquest (Kiana); one great-granddaughter, Laila Conquest, “The Bug”; two sisters, Gloria Clark, (Lonnie) and Rosie Matthews; one brother, Ronnie Harmon (Priscilla); three sisters-in-law, Robbin Handy, Kim White, and Jackie White: three brothers-in-law, Reverend Dr. Bobby White (Akilah), Lewis Tunnell and Otis Douglas; two aunts, Helen Davis and Winnie Finney and a host of nieces and nephews, as well as cousins and friends who held a special place in her life. She was preceded in death by: her mother, Catherine Harmon; father, Grayson Matthews; brother, Grayson John Harmon “Johnny”; mother-in-law, Pauline White; fathers-in-law, Sewell Handy and William White; sister-in-law, Pamela (Pam) Garrett and brothers-in-law, Sewell Handy, Jr. and Joel White.

Eunice Ann Handy

August 23, 1948 - June 23, 2026