Myrtle Church

Celebration of the life of Myrtle Mae Church Myrtle Mae Church, wife of the late Clifton Church and lifelong resident of Jamesville, Virginia, was born on Friday, April 27, 1934 and departed this life on Tuesday, December 27, 2016 at Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital in Nassawadox, Virginia. She was the daughter of the late Sammie and Rebecca Mapp. Myrtle was preceded in death by two sisters, Mary Lizzie Mapp and Louella Smith; two brothers, Sammie Mapp, Jr. and Charles Mapp and one grandson, Dominick Church. Myrtle was educated in the public schools of Northampton County. At an early age, she confessed Christ as her Lord and personal Savior, and joined St. Mary’s Baptist Church in Jamesville, Virginia. She was a devoted mother, loving grandmother, loyal friend to her siblings and others, and a person who always cared about her community. She routinely and consistently tried to help others who were in need. She was always eager to offer good advice when it was needed. Myrtle had a hard life, and had to overcome many challenges to provide for her family, and yet, she was still able to help others. Myrtle was a genius when it came to hard work: shucking clams and oysters for very low pay, cutting greens and cabbage in cold weather, and toting and lifting heavy baskets of potatoes on the night shift at graders. She was a master organizer and skillful in labor. Myrtle used to say, “it was never too hot and never too cold for me to work”, and “I worked as fast as my fingers could go” and also she used to say, “worked with both hands.” Myrtle was the best farm labor contractor in the area, many times working three or four agricultural fields during the hottest of days. She also worked in various factories in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia, which included jobs as a seamstress in a sewing factory, production line worker at Perdue Farms and Drapper Canning Company. She did have hobbies, but they were still work-related: cooking, sewing, going to yard sales, cleaning fish for local fishermen, and caring for young babies. Myrtle, also fondly nicknamed by family as “Murk” or “Way Way”, liked singing hymns while relaxing in her rocking chair, even when she was very young. She liked bright colored dresses, some of which she made herself, and fancy hats. Most of all, she loved people. Everybody knew her and respected her. The Bible says that we should love one another, and we should work using our individual talents to make life better for others (1 John 4:7 and 1 Peter 4:10). Our mother tried her very best to do this . . . all of her life, but now she is tired and needs to rest in her heavenly home. Myrtle is survived by: two daughters, Patricia Church of Salisbury, MD and Gretchen Church-Taylor of Laurel, MD; six sons, Willie (Susan) Church of Gaithersburg, MD, Billy (Judy) Church of Augusta, GA, Nixon Church of Nelsonia, VA, Christopher Church of High Point, NC, Hamilton (Helane) Church of Fayetteville, NC and Brian (Ramona) Church of Exmore, VA; four sisters, Doll Lee Winder of Dagsboro, DE, Joyce Ann Mapp of Baltimore, MD, Amelia (James) Tankard, NJ and Helen Sample of Virginia Beach, VA; five brothers, Thomas (Florence) Mapp of Jamesville, VA, Van Dyke, James, Robert, and Joe Louis Mapp, all of Lincoln, DE; beloved grandchildren, Shauntae (Pedro) Johnson of Cheriton, VA; TSgt. Patrick Church of Minot, ND, Keisha (Giovanni) Rogers-Marelli of Winston Salem, NC, Shannon and Skylar Taylor of Laurel, MD, William Church and Les Foreman, both of Augusta, GA and Vannecia Church of Fayetteville, NC and a host of great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). Loving Submitted by the Family To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Myrtle Church, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.

Myrtle Church

April 27, 1934 - December 27, 2016