Geneva Gunter Ferrell Harris

On Thursday, October 29, 2009, God whispered to Geneva Gunter Ferrell Harris, "My good and faithful servant, come home." Geneva was born on January 24, 1932, in Pittsylvania County, Va., to the late James Gunter and Bell Conway Gunter.
Geneva was united in marriage to the late Harvey Harris. She was a devoted, caring and loving mother, grandmother, greatgrandmother, great-greatgrandmother, sister, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, aunt, cousin and friend. She made friends wherever she went, no one was a stranger to her. She loved, cared for and encouraged the young as well as the old, in all walks of life, to excel to be all that they could be.
She answered her call to follow God at an early age. Upon making her move to Roanoke, Geneva became a faithful and dedicated member of Mt. Sinai Apostolic Holiness Church, under the Pastorate of Elder Ora Brown. Later she became a "Watch Care" member of Jerusalem Baptist Church, under the Pastorate of the late Dr. J.E. Young.
Geneva was a devoted employee to the families of Isabelle Thompson, Margaret Hunter and Mr. and Mrs. Henry Glexiner. She loved and cared for the children of these families as though they were her own.
Geneva was affectionately known to many as "Momma, Grandma, Aunt Geneva, or Big Sis." She had a love for cooking and making sure that no one was hungry. "She was a community Mom."
She had a passion for God's Word and always had a testimony to give. Her witness to God's goodness and mercy at the Early Morning Services, at Jerusalem Baptist Church, always encouraged and lifted-up the spirit of whoever she came in contact with. Sister Harris will be sorely missed by everyone.
She was also preceded in death by her daughter, Evangelist Rosa Ferrell Hickman; son, Joe Lewis Ferrell Sr.; granddaughter, LaTreesa Stephens; three grandsons, James Ferrell, Maurice Ferrell, and Reginald Ferrell; and four brothers.
Those left to cherish and rejoice in her memory are her daughter, Mary Jean Ferrell; sons, James Henry (Carolyn) Ferrell, of Roanoke, Va., Ralph (Mary) Harris, of Petersburg, Va., and Joe Cephus Ferrell, Roanoke, Va.; stepchildren, Mary Harris and Aileen Thompson, of Danville, Va.; sister, Shirley Carter; brother, Curtis Carter, of Roanoke, Va.; daughter-in-law, Iris Ferrell; son-in-law, Woodrow Hickman; sister-in-law, Louise Gunter, all of Roanoke; 31 grandchildren including caregiver, Angelia Sanders; 35 great-grandchildren; 19 greatgreat-grandchildren; adopted sons, Bobby Gunter and Henry Gunter; adopted daughter, Teresa Santiful; a host of nieces, nephews and cousins; devoted friends, Sylvia Boyd and Sylvia Boyd-Johnson; goddaughter, Sylvia Gunn; her bishop, Bishop V.B. Braxton; her pastor, Rev. Floyd W. Gregor Jr.; her Early Morning Service family; and the Mt. Sinai Apostolic Holiness Church and the Jerusalem Baptist Church families. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. on Friday, November 6, 2009, at Jerusalem Baptist Church with the Rev. Floyd Gregory officiating. The interment will be in Williams Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 5, 2009, at Hamlar-Curtis Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.Hamlar-Curtis.com.