Virginia Warren Gilchrist

Virginia Warren Gilchrist, 92, of Battery Avenue, Suffolk, Virginia transitioned Friday, March 8, 2019 at her residence. Born in Southampton County was the daughter of the late Addlee Branch Warren and George H. Warren. She was preceded in death by her husband Elder Elwood Gilchrist, Sr; sisters, Martha Warren and Bernice Story; brothers, Andrew Lee Warren and Willie James Warren. Virginia attended Southampton County School and worked at Planters/Standard Brand, Inc. where she was a faithful and dedicated worker for 33 years. She was hired September 26, 1956 and retired September 29, 1989. She was a member of Apostolic True Word Temple of Faith where she was the Church mother, Missionary, sung in the senior choir and she was a member of Faith Temple Prayer Band. She was also the lead songstress for the Southern Spiritualetts under the leadership of Cornelius Faulk and they later became the Gospel Spiritualetts. She was called the “Song Bird of the South”. She leaves to cherish her memory five daughters, Joyce Brown (Ronnie) of Capitol Heights, MD, Olinda Parrish (Her Butter Ball) of Franklin,  VA, Alfreda Gilchrist of Laurel, MD, Pamela Gilchrist Jones (Perry) of Fort Washington, MD, and Karen Ruffin (Troy) of Suffolk, VA; two sons, Elder Elwood Gilchrist (Angie) and Dr. Linwood Gilchrist Sr. (Sharon) both of Suffolk, VA; sister, Laura Davis; four brothers, Nathaniel Warren of Courtland, VA, George Warren(Yvonne) of Norfolk, VA, Howard Warren of Courtland, and Melvin Warren of Norfolk, VA; 12 grandchildren; 30 great grandchildren; 10 great-great-grandchildren; special aunt, Bertha Turner; four devoted grandsons, Jerrold Gilchrist, Troy Ruffin, Jr., McKinley Ruffin, and Jalen Ruffin; Ride or Die/Bff, Doris Futrell a host of other relatives and friends. A wake will be held 6-8 p.m. Friday, March 15, 2019 in the Melvin J. Blowe Chapel of Crocker Funeral Home. A celebration of life will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, March 16, 2019 at Metropolitan Baptist Church 125 County Street, Suffolk, Virginia. Dr. Linwood Gilchrist will deliver the message of comfort. She will be laid to rest in Saint Paul’s Holiness Church Cemetery, Surry, Virginia. Professional services with dignity have been entrusted to Crocker Funeral Home, Inc. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Virginia Warren Gilchrist, please visit our flower store.