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Mona Black Obituary
Mona Charles Black, 77, of Roanoke, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, April 14, 2010.
She was born on May 7, 1932, in Grundy, Virginia, a daughter of the late Roy and Amanda Rife Charles.
Mona retired after 28 years as executive director of the Mill Mountain Playhouse. In addition to her work with Mill Mountain Playhouse, Mona worked for the United States Census Beareau in both 2000 and 2010, as well as serving as a poll worker in the Monterey Precinct of Roanoke City. She was a member of Northview United Methodist Church.
Surviving is her husband of 58 years, Delaney C. Black; daughters, Gail Carter Black of Berurck, Louisiana, and Amanca C. Black McBreen and her husband, Colonel Brendan McBreen United States Marines, of Suffolk, Virginia; grandchildren, Brendan Delaney McBreen, Amanda Araglin McBreen, Ayla Gayle McBreen; a sister, Bronte Foster and her husband, Robert, of Radford; a brother, Ransom Gale Charles and his wife, Mary Margaret, of Lexington, Kentucky; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be made to the Mona C. Black Memorial Fund c/o Member One Federal Credit Union, 202 4th Street, N.E. Roanoke, Virginia 24016.
A memorial service will be conducted 2 p.m. Sunday, April 18, 2010, at Northview United Methodist Church by the Reverend Bart Weakley.
A reception for family and friends will follow at Center in the Square.
The family received friends from 2 until 4 and from 6 until 8 p.m. Saturday, April 17, 2010, at Simpson Funeral Home 5160 Peters Creek Road, Roanoke, Virginia. 540-366-0707.
This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Glenn Boyette
May 5, 2010
Amanda,
I worked with your mom many years ago. She helped me through a tough time, always with a smile. She was a wonderful person - she will be missed by many.
Tina Davis
April 19, 2010
Amanda and Family,
My thoughts and prayers are with you all during this time. I remember your mom from when we were much younger and I still have so many memories. She was a special lady and it's been nice to read the many tributes made to her, so many people loved her. She did so much as a mom, wife, grandma and for her city. Keep the memories close and cherish the special lady that she was. We just lost my mom, two years ago, on April 15th. Love and hugs to you all.
Tina (Reavis) Davis
Biff Baron
April 19, 2010
I will never ever forget the dedication, unselfishness and LOVE generated by this ball of fire. She was the heart & soul of the theater for so many years and touched so many lives in a positive way. And I will always remember how she turned my name into 2 syllables and made it sound right. Much love to the family - miss you all.
Sally Edelman
April 18, 2010
Miss Mona Black was the" smallest package"of a REAL person with the most vivaciousness I have ever met .I felt blessed to have enjoyed her company ,point of view,wisdom,wit ,energy and positiveness.As well as her graciousnes style , kindness and her infectious laughter and her joy in life and her family.
Mona influenced Mill Mountain Theatre and many people in a memorable way . We the people of the Roanoke Valley will miss her presence and her giving and her untiring work to help so many great causes. May she rest in peace. Our brightest stars burn out the quickest.Mona will always be remembered with greatness.
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Julie Layne
April 18, 2010
I remember as a kid living across the street and playing while our moms were hanging out together. My thoughts are with you.
Teresa Jensen
April 17, 2010
I feel so blessed to have had the honor of knowing Miss Mona, as we called her during the Census 2000 work. We were so overjoyed to then see her back amongst us most recently with Census 2010. I hope this message will fill you with hope in knowing how much joy and laughter she brought to us all, with her cheerfulness, beautiful smile and her stories of her family. Mona we will miss you! May God Bless your beautiful family during these difficult times.
Teresa Jensen
April 17, 2010
Dear Delaney, Amanda and Gail, I am so sorry for your loss. Just know you are in my thoughts and prayers. Mike and I rode through the neighborhood the very day that Mona passed away and spoke with your friend. I did not know of her illness. I will always remember her bubbly personality and how much my KIm loved her. Joyce and Mike Kirk ( Narrows, Va.)
The family of Bertholfs
April 17, 2010
God,You now have her, but how we will miss her!
John Schëar
April 17, 2010
In our lives we come across some of the most wonderful persons possible and Mona was one of those. I was so lucky to have met her about 25 years ago just around the time when Center in the Square became the center of culture in downtown. She added so much to the whole experience and it saddens me so much to realize we will not have the pleasure of her grace and personality.
April 17, 2010
Dear Amanda, Brendan and family,
Sorry to learn of the loss of your
mother. It was blessing to have chatted with Mona very recently. May
God comfort you in abundance.
Bernard and Lois Mitchell
Suffolk, Va.
Joseph Quam
April 17, 2010
As an actor, it was always a privilege working at Mill Mountain. But Mona added to the experience with her winning smile, easy going demeanor, and sly sense of humor. I loved chatting her up about whatever was happening at the time. Her positive take on life was an inspiration.
Beverly Miller
April 17, 2010
Dear Delaney, Gail and Amanda,
We are so sorry to hear of Mona's passing. The memories we have of her through Northview United Methodist Church, St. James Preschool and Mill Mountain Theatre are wonderful and will be cherished forever. Thank you for sharing your vibrant wife and mother with so many people. Our prayers and deepest sympathy are with you during this difficult time.
Ron, Beverly, Scott and Kimberly (Goodmanson) Miller
Carter Cox
April 17, 2010
Mona was a good woman. I loved working as an usher at MMT for her. May God be with all of you. Carter Cox
Jenny Lee
April 16, 2010
Dear Delaney, Amanda, and Gail,
I am lighting this virtual candle in honor of, and in celebration of, the life of your amazing wife and mother, the incomparable Mona Black. She touched and enhanced my life profoundly. I am so very sad for each of you. I know that hundreds, if not thousands, of lives were graced, blessed and touched by Mona. If you ever met Mona, you never forgot her, and you never forgot how wonderful she made you feel. Mona was larger than life, and seemed immortal, and I cannot imagine the depth of your loss.
Ever since I spoke with Amanda yesterday afternoon, I have alternated between tears and smiles almost constantly. Tears, because the world is now so much smaller and colder without Mona to lift all of us up. Her enormous smile and her contagious energy, enthusiasm, passion, charisma and kindness truly lit up the room, the mountain, the building, the Theatre, Center in the Square, and quite honestly the entire City of Roanoke. But I've also had so many smiles (and even outright laughter) over the past 24 hours because of so many happy memories about Mona, and memories of the time I spent with her.
I'm sure you already know this, but I just wanted to share - from someone outside of your family - that from my vantage point, each of you were the central light of Mona's life. Whenever I saw or talked to her, from the day I met her on 1/25/94 until the last time I saw her in Sept., 2009, her family was all she wanted to talk about. Delaney's garden, Amanda and her children, Gail and her continuing adventures in LA.
I loved Mona so very, very much, and I will miss her deeply. She will forever occupy a singular place in my heart and in my memories. She is perhaps the best and greatest person I've ever known. As I said: she was larger than life. It's amazing how someone so physically tiny and petite had such an enormous presence and impact. I feel so glad that she didn't suffer through a long illness, and I know she's looking down and smiling on all of us.
With much love and my deepest sympathy,
Jenny Lee
Peter & Diane Limoges
April 16, 2010
Dear Amanda and Brendan,
Please accept our deepest sympathy on the passing of your Mother, Mona. Although we were very sad to hear the news, we were also very grateful to have had the opportunity to have known her. We truly enjoyed visiting with her when she came to Suffolk, and Diane would always meet me with a smile when I got home from work to tell me that "Mona is here," She alwyays had a smile, something nice to say and a positive attitude. We will truly miss her.
April 16, 2010
Mona was such a positive influence on me as I pursued my interest in theatre - first as a volunteer for Mill Mountain Playhouse and later as an employee of Mill Mountain Theatre. She was such a vital presence and will surely be missed. - Anita Sykes Lisk
Sandra McCorkle
April 16, 2010
Delaney, Gail, and Amanda I was so sorry to hear about Mona. We all use to have some good times at Ferro's. I know your hearts are heavy, and my thoughts and prayers are with you in this time of sorrow. She will be missed by all who knew her for a moment or over the years. If there is anything I can do please let me know.
RoseMary Davis
April 16, 2010
Mona was a regular at a local resturant where I served, she was always so kind and loving and caring to those privileged to dine with her as well as those who had the privilege to serve her. RoseMary Davis
Suzanne Williams Poff
April 16, 2010
I have fond memories of Mona from when I volunteered and worked for the Science Museum. She was always taking me under her wing and making sure I knew EVERYONE. She always made sure I saw the latest shows - even if I could not afford them, Tommy was the best. She was a wonderful, charismatic lady and will truly be missed.
Chris Saunders
April 16, 2010
Mona was not only a customer of mine when I worked at the bank, she was also such a dear friend. I am so sorry to hear of her passing, and I am thankful for getting the chance to know such a wonderful person who would always smile and give a hug.
Robbie Downey
April 16, 2010
Delaney, Amanda and Gail, so sorry to learn of Mona's passing. She and Mill Mountain Theatre will always be synonymous in my mind. I remember her describing how she and Jim Ayers sat on the floor of an office that had nothing but a telephone, and raised money to get MMT off the ground. I believe that without those two, there would never have been a Mill Mountain Theatre.
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