Mrs. Lillie R. Myrick
August 14, 2010
Lillie Mae Ridley Myrick was born on May 24, 1924 in Brunswick County, Virginia. She was the second of ten children born to the late Robert H. and Ella Callis Ridley. Three siblings, Robert H. Ridley, Jr., Jack M.Ridley and Sara Ridley Carroll, preceded her in death. Lillie received her education in Brunswick County and graduated magna cum laude from St. Paul's College in 1946.
While attending St. Paul's College, she met James Lawrence Myrick of Portsmouth, Virginia. They married in 1945 and Lillie moved with her husband to Portsmouth where she lived for sixty years. Two daughters and a son were born to this union.
Lillie accepted Christ at an early age. When she moved to Portsmouth, she immediately joined Third Baptist Church. Under the leadership of Rev. C. H. Jordan and his wife, Mary Agnes, she became a charter member and the first president of the C. H. Jordan Crusaders Club and served in this capacity for 47 years. Lillie's work with the Crusaders epitomized the term "labor of love". She spearheaded many, many fundraisers summer bazaars, plays, dinner sales and musical concerts. Lillie also sponsored social outings; she particularly enjoyed sponsoring trips to Williamsburg to see the outdoor drama, "The Common Glory". She took enormous pride in her work with the Crusaders and the contributions this group made t9 the ministries of Third Baptist Church. In addition to her work with the Crusaders, Lillie was an active participant in other church activities including Vacation Bible School and Junior Missionaries.
When James Myrick died unexpectedly in 1961, Lillie became a young widow with three children. In order to improve her family's circumstances, Lillie entered the work force in 1962 and secured a position as a military pay clerk at the Norfolk Naval Base where she worked until her retirement in 1987. During her employment, she received several commendations for excellence.
As a parent, Lillie held her children to high standards. She demanded excellence in academics and in life. She extolled the virtues of hard work and led by example. She was a firm disciplinarian but she was also fierce in defense of her children. Lillie had a strong sense of right and wrong and imparted her moral code to her children. She was also the proudest and most indulgent grandmother you have ever seen.
Declining health necessitated relocation to Winston-Salem in 2005 where she resided until her passing.
On August 14,2010, Lillie Mae Ridley Myrick's earthly journey ended at Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem, NC. Left to rejoice in her memory are two daughters, Yvonne V. Myrick and Janet Myrick (Charlie)Wall of Winston-Salem, NC; one son, James Lawrence (Rhonda) Myrick, Jr. of Bowie, MD; two granddaughters, Jerlil L Myrick ofCllliton, MD and Denise C. Wall of Winston-Salem, NC; one grandson,
David C. Wall of Winston-Salem, NC;two brothers, Edward L. (Florence) Ridley of Lanham, MD and FrancisR. (Shirley) Ridley of Clinton, MD; four sisters, Lillian Ridley Thomas of Emporia,VA, ,EstherRidley Lee of Covington, VA, Nancy Ridley Bishop of College Park, MD, and Doris Ridley Patrick of Lanham, MD; fourteen nieces and nephews, fifteen great nieces and great nephews and a host of cousins, other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held at Third Baptist Church, 461 Godwin Street, Portsmouth, VA at 12:00 noon on Saturday, August 21, 2010. The family will receive visitors in the chapel adjoining the sanctuary at 11:00 a.m.
For copy of the funeral program, click here
While attending St. Paul's College, she met James Lawrence Myrick of Portsmouth, Virginia. They married in 1945 and Lillie moved with her husband to Portsmouth where she lived for sixty years. Two daughters and a son were born to this union.
Lillie accepted Christ at an early age. When she moved to Portsmouth, she immediately joined Third Baptist Church. Under the leadership of Rev. C. H. Jordan and his wife, Mary Agnes, she became a charter member and the first president of the C. H. Jordan Crusaders Club and served in this capacity for 47 years. Lillie's work with the Crusaders epitomized the term "labor of love". She spearheaded many, many fundraisers summer bazaars, plays, dinner sales and musical concerts. Lillie also sponsored social outings; she particularly enjoyed sponsoring trips to Williamsburg to see the outdoor drama, "The Common Glory". She took enormous pride in her work with the Crusaders and the contributions this group made t9 the ministries of Third Baptist Church. In addition to her work with the Crusaders, Lillie was an active participant in other church activities including Vacation Bible School and Junior Missionaries.
When James Myrick died unexpectedly in 1961, Lillie became a young widow with three children. In order to improve her family's circumstances, Lillie entered the work force in 1962 and secured a position as a military pay clerk at the Norfolk Naval Base where she worked until her retirement in 1987. During her employment, she received several commendations for excellence.
As a parent, Lillie held her children to high standards. She demanded excellence in academics and in life. She extolled the virtues of hard work and led by example. She was a firm disciplinarian but she was also fierce in defense of her children. Lillie had a strong sense of right and wrong and imparted her moral code to her children. She was also the proudest and most indulgent grandmother you have ever seen.
Declining health necessitated relocation to Winston-Salem in 2005 where she resided until her passing.
On August 14,2010, Lillie Mae Ridley Myrick's earthly journey ended at Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem, NC. Left to rejoice in her memory are two daughters, Yvonne V. Myrick and Janet Myrick (Charlie)Wall of Winston-Salem, NC; one son, James Lawrence (Rhonda) Myrick, Jr. of Bowie, MD; two granddaughters, Jerlil L Myrick ofCllliton, MD and Denise C. Wall of Winston-Salem, NC; one grandson,
David C. Wall of Winston-Salem, NC;two brothers, Edward L. (Florence) Ridley of Lanham, MD and FrancisR. (Shirley) Ridley of Clinton, MD; four sisters, Lillian Ridley Thomas of Emporia,VA, ,EstherRidley Lee of Covington, VA, Nancy Ridley Bishop of College Park, MD, and Doris Ridley Patrick of Lanham, MD; fourteen nieces and nephews, fifteen great nieces and great nephews and a host of cousins, other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held at Third Baptist Church, 461 Godwin Street, Portsmouth, VA at 12:00 noon on Saturday, August 21, 2010. The family will receive visitors in the chapel adjoining the sanctuary at 11:00 a.m.
For copy of the funeral program, click here