Virginia Anne (Watkins) Blackwell

Virginia Anne Watkins Blackwell, 96, of Lancaster, VA, went to be with her Lord, Monday, January 2, 2023 at UNC Rex Healthcare in Raleigh, NC. 

Virginia was born September 17, 1926 in Hampton, VA to the late Alfred and Sarah Wilson Watkins.  She was a graduate of Hampton High School and was able to land her first job at NASA in Langley Field, VA.  Virginia ministered as a faithful and devoted pastor’s wife for most of her life and worked as an administrative assistant wherever they resided, until retirement.  She was an ordained deacon of Corrottoman Baptist Church and served faithfully in multiple ministry positions within her church.  One of her favorite ministries was volunteering at the Lighthouse Thrift Store, an extension of the church. Virginia left a wonderful legacy of Christian character for her family and friends.     

She was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Rev. Johnny Lee Blackwell; brothers, A. Coleman Watkins, and Robert L. Watkins; sister, Betty Jane Watkins Miller; brother-in-law, Jimmie C. Miller; and beloved cousin, Elizabeth Ann Page Smith.   

Virginia is survived by her daughters, Anne B. McClain (Gregory), and Roberta S. Blackwell; son, James Leslie Blackwell (Kathy); grandchildren, Jonathan David McClain (Christine), Sean Gregory McClain, Jennifer Lynn Cosby (Doug), Hannah Elizabeth Bychowski (Matthew), and Stephen James Blackwell (Savannah); and six great grandchildren.       

A memorial service will be held locally, 2pm Saturday, January 28, 2023 at Memorial Baptist Church, 271 Leslie Campbell Avenue, Buies Creek, NC 27506, where she recently attended with her daughter Anne.  The family will receive friends immediately following the service.  An additional memorial service will be held at her home church, Corrottoman Baptist Church, 48 Ottoman Ferry Road, Lancaster, VA 22503, 2pm Saturday, February 4, 2023.  Again, the family will receive friends immediately following the service.

Memorials may be made to Corrottoman Baptist Church.

Arrangements by O’Quinn-Peebles-Phillips Funeral Home & Crematory, Lillington. Online condolences at http://www.oppfh.com. 

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