Mavis E. Cupid

Mavis E. Cupid gently and peacefully transitioned to her eternal rest at 9:18 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008 at Bon Secours St. Francis Medical Center, Midlothian.

She was born Oct. 14, 1921 in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, to Cyril and Diana Dalrymple. She attended schools in Barbados, where she began to cultivate her love of nursing and caring for people.

As America prepared for World War II, Mavis came from Barbados to New York. She attended nursing school in the Bronx, and lived with her father and stepmother, Mrs. Hilda Dalrymple, whom she loved dearly. Mavis worked in the labor and delivery departments as an obstetrics nurse, and performed general and private duty at numerous hospitals, including Mt. Sinai in New York.

In 1948, Mavis married Aubrey Escoffery, and from this union, two daughters were born — Denise and Renee. Denise was born in Manhattan. Renee was born after the family moved to Petersburg, and Mavis began working at Memorial Hospital on the campus of Virginia State College. It was at the college that she honed her skills as surrogate mother, teacher, mentor, friend and advocate of the college students and faculty, and the community at large. Mavis was a charter member of the Petersburg Chapter of Moles, inducted in 1960. This organization was her heart, and she remained active in the chapter until her death. During her 48 years as member, Mavis served as chapter president three times. She was also a beloved member of the Libra Club, and the American Association of Retired Persons. Always elegant and well attired with a melodic voice and memorable laugh, Mavis made friends easily and earned their respect and love. She loved her church, her hats, vibrant colors, dances and her garden. She is renowned for her pot of peas and rice, and raised generations of surrogate children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She leaves to cherish her unforgettable memory her only remaining and beloved sister, Eugene Austin of Brooklyn, N.Y. (George); devoted daughters, Denise Escoffery Reeves of Virginia Beach, Va. (Ronald) and Renee Escoffery-Torres of Hampton, Va. (John); treasured and faithful granddaughter, Kia Kenisha Williams of Waldorf, Md. (Chance); cherished great granddaughter Keaton; beloved nephew Evrel Lennard of Brooklyn, N.Y. (Camile); treasured step-sister Zeritha Tate of Port Charlotte, Fla. (Sammy); beloved and devoted godson Neville Whiteman of Hampton, Va. (Violet), devoted and adopted sons Dr. Robert Baker of Ettrick, Va., and John Onajide of Patterson, N.J.; cherished and adopted grandson Marine Sergeant Clinton Wyche, stationed in Iraq, and an entire community of devoted and lifelong family and friends who are dear to her heart.

A Requiem Mass for Mavis E. Cupid will be held at high noon on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008 at Christ and Grace Episcopal Church, Sycamore Street, Petersburg. A memorial service hosted by the Petersburg Chapter of Moles will precede the Mass at 11 a.m. At Mrs. Cupid's request, no flowers please. Donations can be made instead to the St. Stephen's Episcopal Church Building Fund, Petersburg, or your favorite charity.

The entombment will be at Southlawn Memorial Cemetery, Prince George. A repast will immediately follow. The family may be contacted at Mrs. Cupid's home beginning on Monday.

Services have been entrusted to the staff of William N. Bland and Son Funeral Home Petersburg, (804) 732-7841, www.blandenterprisesinc.com