Beatrice H. Winbush

Until death do us part, God in his infinite wisdom dispatched the death angel on Nov. 29, 2009, to take our precious jewel, Beatrice Hatcher Winbush, to her mansion on high. She was born in Dinwiddie County on June 16, 1923. She was the daughter of the late Abraham and Florence Yancy Hatcher. Beatrice was preceded in death by her husband, James Oliver Winbush Sr.

She attended school in Dinwiddie County. She was employed for several years at Central State Hospital in Dinwiddie, Va., as well as farmed with her husband for a number of years.

James and Beatrice were married on Oct. 20, 1955. They were blessed to be the proud parents of four children: John, Gwendolyn, Trenia and James Jr.

At an early age she accepted Jesus Christ and became an active member of the Olive Branch Baptist Church, Dinwiddie, Va. Beatrice truly loved working in the church helping people and most of all she loved the Lord. She was a member of the Missionary Ministry and the Usher Ministry for many years. She supported many church activities over the years. Mrs. Winbush was truly her husband's help mate. She assisted him through many church initiatives and programs and has donated many hours visiting with those in need. Beatrice and James shared the same motto "If I can help somebody along the way, my living will not be in vain." Most of all, Beatrice enjoyed being a servant of God.

She supported her husband in many civic and community projects for Dinwiddie County. She was a member of the NAACP. Her footsteps were ordered by her spiritual beliefs because she put God first in her life in all things and continued to serve as a role model for all who knew her. Her deep faith, strength and endurance were demonstrated throughout her life and especially during her period of declining health.

Her family and friends recognized her as a compassionate and loving woman of strong convictions, great strength, and full of wisdom. She was our role model, mentor, friend and our hero and she will truly be missed, but not forgotten. Her lessons of life and love will be forever embedded in our hearts. All of us recognize certain traits within us that remind us of her.

She is survived by her children, John S. Jefferson (Joyce) of Richmond, Va., Gwendolyn W. Hall of Sutherland, Va., Trenia W. Harris (Horace) of Colonial Heights, Va., and James O. Winbush Jr. (Sharlene) of Suffolk, Va. She is the sister of Pearl Dabney of Dinwiddie, Va. She is the sister-in-law of Alice Crawley, Floyd Winbush (Dora), Elsie Clark, Lucille Bernice Myrick (Garland), Catherine Winbush and William Fisher Sr. of Petersburg, Va., and Rev. John Winbush Sr. of Sutherland, Va. She is the proud grandmother of 12 grandchildren: Michael Jefferson and Crystal Jefferson of Petersburg, Va., Patrice Woody (Gregory) of Richmond, Va., Dwayne Farmer (Gail) of Chesterfield, Va., Jeffrey White (Stephanie) of Washington, DC, William Hall Jr. of Sutherland, Va., Trenee' Harris, Trenette Harris and Horace Harris Jr. of Colonial Heights, Va., James W.A. Winbush of Keller, Texas, Sharisse Chapman (Sidney) of Bristow, Va., and Jonelle Houston (George) of Suffolk, Va. She is also the proud great-grandmother of six great-grandchildren; Gregory Woody Jr., Casey and Devon Farmer, Sydne and Rhys Chapman and Zoey Houston; a devoted nephew, Michael Winbush; several devoted family friends such as Wardell Ferguson, Eloise Jefferson, Delores Harris, Juanita Dickens, Inez White, Willie Walker, Deacon Jesse Blackwell and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 4, 2009, at the Olive Branch Baptist Church, Dinwiddie, with the pastor, Rev. Kevin Northam, officiating. Burial will commence at the Dinwiddie Memorial Park. Following the internment, a fellowship will be held at Club 17, Petersburg, Va. At the request of the family, flowers are welcome, but donations will be accepted to the Olive Branch Baptist Church Missionary Ministry, 11119 Boydton Plank Road, Dinwiddie, VA 23841. The family Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Joseph M. Johnson & Son Funeral Home, 530 South Sycamore Street, Petersburg, (804) 863-4411.