 CUSTALOW, Gertrude Elizabeth "Minnie Ha-Ha," 90, of the Mattaponi Indian Reservation, passed away peacefully with family, to be with our Lord, on November 10, 2012. Minnie Ha-Ha was born on September 10, 1922, the Elder of the Mattaponi Indian Reservation and Mattaponi Baptist Church. She was baptized at age 13 and has faithfully attended church for 76 years. She was preceded in death by her parents, Chief O.T. and Marie Custalow; husband, Chief Curtis L. "War Horse" Custalow Sr.; son, Marvin I. Sr.; grandson, William (Lee) Reel Jr.; brothers, Vincent, Ted, Al, Irvin, Chanco, and Jack; sisters, Marie and Genevieve. She is survived by her children, Curtis L. Jr. (Phyllis), Jacqueline, beloved daughter-in-law, Veronica Reel (Billy), Denise Davis and Michael G. Sr.; 14 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren. Also, Minnie Ha-Ha is survived by brothers, George and Keith; and sisters, Matoaka, June and Mayflower. In 1969, Minnie Ha-Ha established the Minnie Ha-Ha Educational Trading Post, with the motto "We Trade Knowledge." She taught cultural classes to schools, the Pepperbird Foundation and many other classes and events. She also taught beadwork and pottery. As an oral historian, her memory was vivid. She recalled events from when she was five years old to date. She didn't have to write anything down, she would say, "I can remember, it's all up here." She collaborated history dates and all circumstances concerning the Reservation, church, state and family. She served as secretary and treasurer from 1969 to present. She was active in the W.M.U. She always loved to say in church, "We run on Indian time, we start when we start and finish when we finish." She truly loved her family, her church and her Tribe. At the death of her mother in 1943, she helped finish raising her siblings as well as her own infant son. She will be dearly missed by all. As all of us children survived, we recall things Mama taught us. Before Mama passed, she did prepare us for her leaving. She and Daddy taught us how to be good Christians and obedient children to them and when God calls upon her passing, she will let us know that she would still be watching over us. We talked, we prayed, we grieve, we laughed today; this is what Mama would want. In the past months, Mama was ill and when times were bad, she would sing hymns to soothe her pain. Her favorite hymn was Does Jesus Care? "Oh yes He cares, I know He cares. His heart is touched with my grief. When the days are weary, the long nights dreary, I know my Savior cares."
The family received friends 6 to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at the B. W. White Funeral Home at Rte. 30, by the Courthouse. Service will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday (today), November 14 at the Mattaponi Indian Baptist Church. A celebration of Minnie Ha-Ha's life will be held at the Tribal Center following interment. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Mattaponi Indian Baptist Church, c/o Kenneth Custalow, 1538 Mattaponi Reservation Circle, West Point, Va. 23181. We give many thanks to all who have assisted and are lifting us all up in prayer.
Published in Richmond Times-Dispatch from November 12 to November 14, 2012
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