Elmer Dean Howell Brinkley

Elmer Dean H. Brinkley CHESAPEAKE - Elmer Dean Howell Brinkley, 91, died July 15, 2009, after a very brief illness. Mrs. Brinkley, a native of Nansemond County, the daughter of the late William Thomas Howell and Erma Dean Hines Howell and was the widow of Felix Walton Brinkley, her husband of 65 years. She was a longtime member of Centenary United Methodist Church and was a past president of the United Methodist Women. Survivors include two daughters, Nancy B. MacPhail and husband Joseph of Chesapeake, Sarah B. Hanel of Portsmouth; six grandchildren, Joseph C. MacPhail III and wife Alison of Charlotte, N.C., Thomas W. MacPhail and wife Deborah of DeLand, Fla., David W. MacPhail and wife Angela of Charlottesville, Va., and Catherine M. Smith and husband Christopher, also of Charlottesville, Christopher B. Hanel of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and M. Ryan Hanel of Portsmouth; eight great-granddaughters, Elizabeth, Ashleigh, Emily, Sarah, Olivia, Reagan, Cameron, and Avery; brother-in-law, David L. Brinkley and his wife Ruby of Suffolk; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a brother, William Thomas Howell Jr. and a sister, Ella Sue H. Tripp. The funeral will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at Baker-Foster Funeral Home, Bennett's Creek Chapel, 5685 Lee Farm Lane, Suffolk, by the Rev. George B. Neas. Burial will follow in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Suffolk. Visitation will be Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the "Caring Committee" or and "Renewed Centenary" c/o Centenary United Methodist Church, 3312 Cedar Lane, Portsmouth, VA 23703.