Aleatha West

Death is not extinguishing the light; it is putting out the lamp because dawn has come. Thus, Miss Aleatha West (Lisa) extinguished her lamp of life on the 30th day of December, 2010, at 2:40 a.m. She quietly and peacefully rested from her labors in the Southside Regional Medical Center, Petersburg, Va.

Aleatha was born June 22, 1955, to Amanda West and the late Lawrence West. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, auntie, and friend.

Lisa was a born-again Christian and member of the Rock Church, Petersburg, Va., where she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal savior. God blessed her with an array of talents, which included arts and crafts, poetry, singing and floral arrangements. She loved creating gift baskets, and home décor pieces for her many friends and family. To be in her presence, was like being in the presence of an angel. Her since of style and flair for fashion left an indelible mark on all that met her. Lisa was a true superstar and renaissance trailblazer who was ahead of her time. To all that have shared warmth, love, kindness personal memories, the family is deeply grateful.

She was preceded in death by her father, Lawrence West, and grandparents, Willie and Camella West.

Left to cherish her memories are her family: daughter, Niki McFarlin (Staff Sgt. Timothy McFarlin) of Fort Bragg, N.C.; son, Pfc. Ross West of Petersburg, Va.; two grandchildren, Darian Wyatt and Kim McFarlin both of Fort Bragg, N.C., and a loving mother, Amanda West of Petersburg, Va. Aleatha is mourned by her brother, Milton Harris and sister-in-law, Beverly Harris of Chesterfield, Va., and their two children and great-nephew, Latoya Harris Crockett (Marshal) of Prince George, Sherika and Elijah Harris both of Chesterfield, Va.; two devoted god-sisters, Patricia Taylor of Houston, Texas, and Rosa Brown of Petersburg, Va. Lisa will be greatly missed by her many cousins, among them are Tina Harris and Sonya Battle, both of Petersburg, Va., and Beonca Taylor of Fort Lee, Va., and friends.

Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011, at the Chapel of J.M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment Inc., 102 South Ave., Petersburg, Va., the Rev. Pinkie Hill, eulogist. The interment to follow at Wilkerson Memorial Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011, at the funeral establishment.

The family will also receive friends at 3220 Loganwood Drive, Colonial Heights, Va., 804-768-4371 and 214 S. Sycamore St., Apartment 516, Petersburg, Va.

Family members and friends are invited to pay final tribute to Miss West online at www.jmwilkersonsince1874.com.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to the staff of J.M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment Inc., 102 South Ave., Petersburg, Va., 804-732-8911, www.jmwilkersonsince1874.com.