Virginia McKelvain

July 27, 2015

All of Heaven is celebrating the arrival of another precious saint of God! Mary Virginia Steadham McKelvain passed away after a brief illness in Escambia County, Florida on July 24, 2015. She was born on July 9, 1935 and turned 80 years old just a few days before her passing. Ms. Virginia was a lifelong resident of Jay and a member of Cornerstone Christian Church of Jay.

Many loved ones are in Heaven to greet her, but most importantly she is face to face with the one she wanted to see the most; her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She is literally in His arms with no more suffering, pain, hardship or disease of any kind.

Ms. Virginia was preceded in death by her father, Henry Clyde (Bub) Steadham; her mother, Lucile Enfinger Steadham; two brothers, Clyde Steadham and Winston Steadham; son-in-law, Raymond Diamond Jr.; and her baby boy, Mark Eugene Griswold, whom she never got to see here on earth.

She leaves behind her children, Mary Opal Branch (T-Don), Cynthia Darlene Marshall (Doyle) and Lucinda Ann Diamond; her grandchildren, Chasity Reid (Randy Sims), Amber Deese (David), Mary Laura Boutwell (Blake), Heath Marshall (Molly) and Andrew Diamond as well as her great-grandchildren, Tori and Blake Reid, Sawyer, Cooper and Carrington Deese and Grant Marshall. Her living brothers and sisters are, Barbara Levins (Hubert) of Cantonment, Charles Steadham (Myra) of Atmore, Carl Steadham (Flo) of Bay Minette, Annie Ruth Kelley (Tink) of Jay, Dorothy Owens (Tommy) of Jay, Lillian Ward (Roy) of Jay, Amelia Steadham of Jay; a sister-in-law, Linda Steadham of Flomaton; and two special nieces, Deanna Rutherford and Leslie Borders; along with many other nieces and nephews.

All who knew Ms. Virginia loved her. She was a package full of sweetness. She tenderly and deeply loved her family and friends and showed much kindness to all of her acquaintances.

She adored her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren who affectionately called her Momma, Grandma and Mimi. Besides living for the Lord, they were her reasons for waking up each morning and putting one foot in front of the other. She not only helped to raise them and other family members, she was also a mother figure to many others not related to her. She instilled morals of family love, hard work, stewardship and the love of Jesus in each of them. Ms. Virginia will be an example for years to come for all of her family to pattern their lives after.

Our loss is Heaven’s gain. Ms. Virginia will be greatly missed by all those she left behind. However, God promises us if we turn our lives to Him and serve Him as she did, we will be reunited with her one glorious, triumphant day in Heaven!

Funeral services will be held at Cornerstone Christian Church at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28, 2015, with burial following at Elizabeth Chapel Cemetery in Chumuckla. Pastors Frederick Barrow and Bobby Carnley will be officiating.

Active pallbearers will be Ms. Virginia’s grandchildren, great-grandchildren, Jeff Kelley and Terry Kelley.

Honorary pallbearers will be her nieces and nephews.

Eastside Chapel in Atmore is in charge of the arrangements.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Jay Hospital and Dr. Jeff Kelley, Baptist Hospital and Select Specialty Hospital. They also want to send heartfelt thanks for all of the calls, texts and prayers from many of their family and friends.

Comments

One Response to “Virginia McKelvain”

  1. Sylvia Godwin on July 28th, 2015 10:16 am

    My sincere sympathy to all of Virginia’s family. She was one of the best Christian ladies I ever met. May God give all of you peace and comfort in the days ahead.
    My love and prayers are with you. Sylvia Godwin

Written by Jane · Filed Under Obituaries