Obituaries – Their Stories Live On

Sunday, July 26th, 2020, one of the last things we heard Moma say to us was, “I’ll be home Monday or Tuesday.”

On Tuesday, July 28th, we were told by Moma’s nurses at Raleigh General Hospital as tears ran down their face, that during the raining gloomy hours of the evening, Moma started her departure from this Earthly Kingdom. It was raining so hard and the skies were dark, but when Moma took her last breath, the rain ceased and the brightest sunlight they had ever seen lit up the entire room. Without a doubt the Heavens opened up and received Moma into her Heavenly Kingdom to be with the Lord at which time

Mrs. Virtie Easley, age 95, entered into her eternal home to be with her Lord and Savior.

She was born May 8, 1925, in Ansted, West Virginia to the late Julia and William Haskins. She was the oldest of five children, of which four were boys, William, Walter, Luke and Jesse Haskins, all preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by her grandson, Min. Peter Easley, whom she raised, granddaughters Anissa Frazier, Jocqueline Easley and great-grandson, Jeremy Lewis.

She accepted Christ at an early age at Mt. Chapel Baptist Church, Ansted, WV. She attended Fayette County Schools prior to moving to Raleigh County, WV

After relocating to Raleigh County, WV in 1970, she joined St. John Baptist Church, Raleigh, WV, where she served as the children’s choir director, member of the usher board, kitchen committee, sung in the senior choir, and chaired the Pastor’s Anniversary Committee. She later joined Mt. Vernon Baptist Church in Lanark, WV, until finding her final home church at Sky Ministries Church, Beckley, WV where she was a founding member. Actually, the first official church meeting was held at her home.

At Sky Ministries, she was the Mother of the church, a member of the Women on the Move Ministry and member of the choir. She will be remembered through her faithfulness to the ministry at Sky with her hard work in managing fundraisers for the Building Fund. She also presided over the Christmas fruit drives yearly and managed the annual Women in White program, until her health began to fail, at which time she went to live with her daughter and son-in-law, Verna and Norman Jackson and resided there for the last seven years.

She was employed as a cook at Black Knight Country Club, Foster’s Restaurant and Holiday Inn in Beckley, WV.

Those left to cherish her memory are her nine children, sons, William (Cheryle) Easley of Tulsa, OK, Thomas Easley of Beckley, WV, David (Tina) Easley and John (Gail) Easley, both of Baltimore, MD and Paul Easley, Baltimore, MD, a grandson that she raised as her son; daughters, Alberta Hart of Washington, D.C., Carol Robertson of Baltimore, MD, Kathleen Wildmon of Brooklyn, NY, Verna (Norman) Jackson of Raleigh, WV and Sheral Manns of Beckley, WV.

She also leaves behind twenty-four grandchildren, forty-nine great-grandchildren and twelve great-great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Private funeral service will be 12:00PM Thursday, August 6, 2020 at Sky Ministries 815 S. Fayette St., Beckley with Rev. William Fruit officiating. Burial in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Prosperity.

Friends may call one hour prior to the service at the church.

Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, masks, gloves and social distancing will be required to attend the service.

Email condolences to ritchie-johnson@suddenlinkmail.com.

Arrangements entrusted to Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley