Merline I. Black

Merline Irene Black, 95, of Winchester, VA, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at the Blue Ridge Hospice Inpatient Care Center.
Merline was born on November 20, 1929, in Athol, MA, the daughter of the late Merl R. Lanagan and Irene B. Tibbetts. She was a previous member of the First Christian Church & member of Burnt Factory Church both in Winchester and was a pastor's wife for 70+ years. She enjoyed traveling, serving the church, reading, crafts, biblical, archeology and being with her family. Pastor Black would always refer to Merline by saying "the world had a friend".
Merline married John Lloyd Black, Jr. on December 23, 1949, in Washington, D.C. Pastor Black died October 11, 2022.
Surviving is a daughter: Jamie Lee Swisher (Perry) of High View, WV; 11 grandchildren: John L. Black, IV. Zach H. Swisher, Megan R. Fox, Shannon C. Moser, Amanda J. Young, Seth & Ashlynn Black, Caleb & Justin Moore, Jennifer & Michael Scollick; a step-grandchild: Kelly Cook; eight great-grandchildren: Sophia & Silas Black; Brianna & Noah Fox; Perry Moser; Lillianna, Brielle & Myles Young and two great great-grandchildren: Celia & Arthur Fox.
She is preceded in death by two daughters: Gwyneth H. Chestnut & Abbie J. Rosenberger; a grandchild: Josh Moser; and a brother: Merl R. Lanagan.
A funeral service will be held in the Giffin Funeral Home & Crematory in Capon Bridge, WV on Friday, November 14, 2025, at 1:30 PM. Officiating will be Pastors Vernon Bray and Steve Melester. Interment will follow in the Mt. Olive Cemetery near Winchester, VA.
Family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday, from 12-1:30 PM.
Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Merline to Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 W. Cork St., Winchester, VA 22601 or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude’s Place, Memphis, TN 38105.