Lucille V. "Washington" Minkins

On Sunday, January 25, 2026, God in His Infinite Wisdom called Lucille Minkins to eternal rest at the age of 101 in Charter Assistant Living Facility. She was born on October 31, 1924, to the late Phillip and Fannie Lee Washington.

She attended the local public schools and graduated from Bruton Heights School in 1941. She was united in marriage to the late Raymond Henderson Minkins, and they made their home in James City County (Grove).

Lucille accepted Christ at the age of twelve, was baptized, and joined the St. John Baptist Church. In 1982, Lucille was the first woman asked to serve on the St. John Trustee Board. She served as secretary to the Board for a number of years. She was a charter member of the St. John Busy Bee Club. Lucille loved her church and was truly faithful in her service to St. John Baptist Church.

Lucille was a Life Member of the NAACP. She was also a member of the Order of Eastern Star, Pride of Grove Chapter 181, for more than fifty-three years. In this organization, she served as secretary for more than thirty years. President of the O. E. S. District Council for District Four & Fifteen for seven years and was named President Emeritus of the District Council. Lucille was a charter member of the Friends of African American History, Williamsburg. She truly loved the Pride of Grove #181

Her first employment was during World War II. She was a seamstress at the Naval Weapon Station, Yorktown. Later was employed with the Williamsburg-James City County Public School as Cafeteria Manager at Bruton Heights School for seventeen years. She retired in 1985 as a seamstress with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Lucille loved reading, organizing programs, and planning trips. She especially loved her family and her many friends. Lucille was an avid baseball fan. Her favorite team was the Washington Nationals, and her favorite player was CJ Abrams (she let everyone know it too!!!) All of the ladies who came to her house ended up knowing all about baseball before leaving.

Lucille never had children, but her family always meant so much to her. Her father died when she was very young, and she only knew her stepfather, the late George Parsons. His marriage to her mother brought her brothers and sisters, whom she loved.

Lucille was preceded in death by her husband, Henderson Raymond Minkins; sisters, Elizabeth Lee, Marion Howlette, Catherine Washington, Julia Wallace, Thelma Byrd, and Esther Piggott; sisters-in-law, Lillian Edwards, Beatrice Etter, and Ella Parsons; and brothers-in-law.

Her memories will be forever with her sister Alzenia Holmes; caregiver, Arlene Collins and Family; godson Eric Thomas; and a host of nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews; special friends, Joseph Edmonds, Jackie Wright, Sandra Copeland, Wilma Bond, Zelma Venters, and O'Brian Shelton whom Henderson and Lucille mentored; also special friend Karen Anislag who even though she traveled with the military always made time to call Ms. Lucille and make sure her supply of tea never ran out; and a host of other loving relatives and friends.

A service to celebrate Lucille's life will be held at Noon on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at St. John Baptist Church, with a viewing beginning at 10:00 a.m. Interment to follow in the church cemetery.

Professional services have been entrusted to the staff of Whiting's Funeral Home, 7005 Pocahontas Trail, Williamsburg, Virginia 23185. 757-229-3011 whitingsfuneralhome.com