Elva E. Thorpe

Mrs. Elva Ernestine Thorpe of Chesterfield, VA entered into eternal rest on Thursday, August 4, 2022. Elva was a native of Chesterfield County born to the late John H. Thomas, Sr. and Dorothy M. Thomas. She attended Chesterfield County Public Schools. Elva joined Union Grove Baptist Church at a young age where she actively served in numerous ministries until her declining health. Some of those ministries included President of the Pulpit Hospitality Society, Member of the Finance Ministry, Golden Circle, Usher & Auxiliary Ministry, and she was a Girl Scout Troop Leader.

Elva worked for Central State Hospital in the Department of Mental Health until her retirement after 30 years of employment. She was a member of the Electa Chapter, No. 7 Order of the Eastern Star for over 50 years, a dedicated member of the Alease Cooley Memorial Tent #718, she served as Queen of the Royal Degree Chamber #8, and served as President of the Federation of Nurses Unit. Elva also served as a volunteer for the Martha Mason Hill Memorial Foundation.

She was preceded in death by her husband Clarence L. Thorpe Sr.; son James Oliver Thorpe; brothers, John H. Thomas Jr., Robert Thomas, Malcolm Thomas, Milton Thomas, James R. Thomas Sr., Harold L. Thomas and Edward Thomas; sisters, Dorothy Mae Pettiford, Mary Lucille Valentine, Margaret Louise Thomas, Alice G. Freeman and Gloria Jean Jones.

Elva’s memories will always be cherished by her family; sons Clarence L. Thorpe Jr. (Camila), one devoted Phillip A. Thorpe Sr. (Betty) and Nathaniel Thorpe Sr. all of Chesterfield, VA; grandchildren, Tijuan Thorpe (Tanya), Timothy Thorpe, Sharika Reed (Bryan), Phillip Thorpe Jr., Nathaniel Thorpe Jr., Tia Thorpe, and Tamika Uzzle (Alefunzo) all of Chesterfield, VA; ten great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild; god-children, Viola Pope and one devoted Patricia E. Brown both of Chesterfield, VA; sisters, Gracie Wilson of Aberdeen, MD, Alma Kemper and Delores Goode both of Chesterfield, VA and Virginia King of Wake Forest, NC; Sisters-in-law Etta Hawley (Raymond) of Oxford, NC and Grace Thomas of Chesterfield, VA; a host of nieces and nephews two devoted Cecelia E. Smith and Clifton L. Thomas and other relatives and friends.

Services will be held 1:00 P.M., Saturday, August 13, 2022 at Tabernacle Baptist Church, 418 Halifax Street, Petersburg, VA, the Rev. Dr. Robert A. Diggs, Sr., Pastor, and Rev. Dr. William E. Johnson III, eulogist. The interment to follow in Sunset Memorial Park.

The family requests that all attendees please wear a mask to the funeral service.

J.M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment, Inc., 102 South Avenue, Petersburg, VA, (804) 732-8911, www.jmwilkersonsince1874.com. Watch the funeral services live online on our J. M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment, Inc. Facebook page.