Obituaries – Their Stories Live On

Born December 14, 1937, in Concho, WV, Zora Annie Bell Stroud, also lovingly known as Mom, Ma, Mamma, Sissy, Ann, Chocolate Mamma and Big Mamma, went home to be with her savior Jesus on April 08, 2024, at 2:12pm.

Zora is a legend, being the first female in West Virginia to retire from 22 years of underground coal mining. In recognition of her service, she is memorialized with a plaque at the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine and Museum.

After being laid off from Beckley Hospital where she worked as a nurse aid, she knew her next job had to afford her enough pay to raise three growing boys and since the mines had started allowing women to work underground, she decided to give it a try, low and behold at age 40 her coal mining career began. It was tough at first as miners didn’t find working with women to be the “norm” but after mom taught them a few lessons she became lovingly known as Chocolate Mamma to all who worked with her. She was well known among the ranks for her work ethic, strong convictions, and exquisite cooking as she made food for them regularly.

She had a love for natural remedies/medicine, originally being taught by her father about herbs and medicinal plants which she continued to study throughout her life.

She took care of so many people either with a remedy or her own hands, some even financially. With a vast knowledge of supplements, God used her to heal Cirrhosis of the liver, helped some with cancer recover from the effects of chemo with homemade beet wine and much, much more. God blessed her with a very discerning pallet for food as she could taste a dish and duplicate it. She had many gifts and talents.

Zora Ann lived life on her own terms, acknowledging Jesus Christ was her Lord and Savior and when she was ready to go home to be with Him she let the doctors and her family know…some even say, (in a loving and humorous way) that death may have been afraid of her because years ago she drove herself to the emergency room while having a heart attack termed “the widow maker”. Not many people live after such an event let alone are able to drive anywhere. Doctors and other medical personnel were astounded.

She was preceded in death by her father, James Chambers; mother, Mary White Chambers; brothers, Guy Chamber and wife, Alvera and Lewis (Deloris) Chambers; son, Alfred Chambers; granddaughter, Ella Foster and husband, Calvin Foster; grandson, Christopher Saunders, Jr. and daughter-in-law, Michelle Stroud.

Those left to cherish her memory are her sister, Elsie Chambers; daughter, Diane (Alvis) Williams; two sons, Christopher (Eulanda) Saunders and Nathan (Yevonne) Stroud; grandchildren, Avis Williams, Alvis Williams Jr., Joshua Williams, Chantelle Saunders, Jermaine Saunders, Justin Saunders, Ciarra Stroud, Summer Butler, Kadijah Butler, and Justin Butler; 11 great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.

Momma was a woman who always gave us hope and strength. She believed we could call on the Lord any time for what we needed. She also believed that there wasn’t anything a person couldn’t do if they put their mind to it.

She enjoyed gardening, cooking, hymns and gospel music.

Funeral service will be 12:00PM Saturday, April 20, 2024 at Heart of God Ministries 1703 S. Kanawha St. Beckley with Pastor Keith Hill officiating. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Prosperity.

Friends, while wearing masks and observing social distancing, may view from 10:00AM - 12:00PM. The family will receive from 11:00AM - 12:00PM.

Email condolences to ritchiejohnsonfuneralparlor@gmail.com.

Arrangements entrusted to Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.