Page 83 - History of the United Methodist Church in Rockingham County
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History of Congregations of Winchester District June 12, 2024
years in Harrisonburg City and Rockingham Co. schools at Lucy Simms School and Spotswood Elementary
School in Harrisonburg. A devoted member of John Wesley UMC and community worker, she served as a
Sunday school teacher, church missionary leader and in special community service. She was also an active
member of the Valley Association of Retired Educators. Gathering with family members and friends at annual
family reunions and telephone visits with high school classmates and family members were some of her great
joys. Bunnie was also a wonderful cook and homemaker who was known for her delicious meals and
organizational skills. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Luther N. Arrington
and Calvert L. Arrington, and one sister, Clyde A. “Bobbie” Wall. She leaves to cherish her love and fond
memories one sister, Vera A. Shivers of Fitzgerald, Ga.; one brother, William A. Arrington (Doris) of Stafford;
sister-in-law, Calpurnia Arrington; nephews, Michael W. Arrington, William L. Wall, and Marcus G. Arrington
(Sandra); nieces, Linda G. Arrington, Pam Benjamin, Serena E. Arrington, and Patrice W. Brown (John); one
great-niece, Imani E. Arrington; one great-nephew, Aaron Arrington; special friends of many years, Barbara
Blakey and Carlyle Whitelow; and a host of loving cousins, relatives, and friends. The Revs. Wesley E.
Thornberry and Wilma White conducted a Homecoming Service Mar. 20th at John Wesley UMC. A second
service was held on Mar. 21st at Lea & Pope Funeral Home, 215 S. McDaniel St., Enfield, N.C.
Trevor Cordel Banks, 26, of Harrisonburg, went home to be with the Lord, surrounded by loved ones on
Jan. 22, 2013, at University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, after a brave battle with PTSD. Trevor
was born Feb. 10, 1986, in Harrisonburg. He was the son of Felicia Banks Thomas and Robert L. “Bobby”
Harper, Jr., both of Harrisonburg. Trevor graduated from Harrisonburg High School in 2004; he went on to serve
his country as a member of the National Guard, 116th Infantry Alpha Co., 3rd Battalion for 6 years and served in
Iraq from 2007 to 2008. He was self-employed as a barber and worked for his dad’s family business, The
Cleaning People, Inc., for many years. He was a dedicated friend to many. In addition to his parents, Trevor is
survived by his son, Xavier Banks, his daughter, Imani Banks and their mother, Jennifer Millitch; brothers,
Malcolm Thomas and Robert Harper, III both of Harrisonburg; sisters, Kerine Thomas of New Jersey and Shanice
and Shauna Phillips of Harrisonburg, Gloria Thomas of Delaware; Maternal grandfather, Elmer C. Banks of
Harrisonburg; Paternal grandmother, Doris H. Allen of Harrisonburg; Uncles, Carlton Banks and wife, Shelia,
Con Banks and wife, Alison, Both of Harrisonburg, William ??Bill?쳌 Harper and wife, Thandi of Maryland;
Aunt, Belinda Harper of Georgia; a special friend, Charla Whitelow of Harrisonburg, and a host of great-aunts,
uncles and cousins. Funeral services were held Jan. 27th at Kyger Funeral Home in Harrisonburg. In lieu of
flowers, memorial donations were to be made to John Wesley UMC, c/o Carlye Whitelow, 100 Mt. Crawford
Ave. Bridgewater, VA 22812. The family would also like to thank Andrew “Shack” Curry and Ashby Jackson
for all of their love and support of Trevor.
Miss Altee D. Beal, 85, a resident of Harrisonburg, passed away Oct. 31, 2010, at Harrisonburg Health
and Rehabilitation Center. She was born Dec. 10, 1924, in Bridgewater, and was the daughter of the late Harrison
and Mary Alice Taylor Beal. Miss Beal lived most of her life in the Bridgewater and Harrisonburg areas and
graduated from the Lucy F. Simms High School. She was a housekeeper for a children’s home in Harrisonburg, a
sorority house at the University of Maryland, and a fraternity house in New York. She was also a housekeeper for
Dr. and Mrs. Carl Winters in Chicago, Ill., and a very faithful and caring housekeeper for Dr. Jean Wine in
Harrisonburg for 24 years. She was a faithful member of John Wesley UMC, the United Methodist Women, and
also sang in the church choir. She is survived by a number of nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-
nephews and great-great-nieces, and great-great-nephews. She was preceded in death by three sisters, Muriel
Whitelow, Meredith Beal, and Madge Brown; and a brother, Kern Beal. Miss Beal was cremated at Lindsey
Funeral Homes and Crematory in Harrisonburg. A graveside service was held Nov. 6th at Greenwood-Ames
Cemetery in Bridgewater. The same day at John Wesley UMC with the Rev. Wilma White officiating. Memorial
contributions may be made to John Wesley UMC, 445 Sterling St., Harrisonburg, VA 22802.
Rev. Alicia J. Blake, 50, formerly of Hagerstown, died Friday, Mar. 14, 2008, at
Millard Fillmore Gates Hospital, Buffalo, N.Y. Born May 5, 1957, in Winchester, she was the
daughter of the late Harmon G. and Mary L. (Davis) Byrd Sr. She was the wife of Pastor JT
Blake of Buffalo. Pastor Alicia was a graduate of James Wood High School (1971-75),
Frederick Co., Va., class of 1975. She also graduated from James Madison University (1975-
79), Harrisonburg, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communication Arts. Alicia later
obtained her Masters of Divinity Degree from Howard University School of Divinity in
II.B.3 John Wesley UMC 71 Volume 5
years in Harrisonburg City and Rockingham Co. schools at Lucy Simms School and Spotswood Elementary
School in Harrisonburg. A devoted member of John Wesley UMC and community worker, she served as a
Sunday school teacher, church missionary leader and in special community service. She was also an active
member of the Valley Association of Retired Educators. Gathering with family members and friends at annual
family reunions and telephone visits with high school classmates and family members were some of her great
joys. Bunnie was also a wonderful cook and homemaker who was known for her delicious meals and
organizational skills. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Luther N. Arrington
and Calvert L. Arrington, and one sister, Clyde A. “Bobbie” Wall. She leaves to cherish her love and fond
memories one sister, Vera A. Shivers of Fitzgerald, Ga.; one brother, William A. Arrington (Doris) of Stafford;
sister-in-law, Calpurnia Arrington; nephews, Michael W. Arrington, William L. Wall, and Marcus G. Arrington
(Sandra); nieces, Linda G. Arrington, Pam Benjamin, Serena E. Arrington, and Patrice W. Brown (John); one
great-niece, Imani E. Arrington; one great-nephew, Aaron Arrington; special friends of many years, Barbara
Blakey and Carlyle Whitelow; and a host of loving cousins, relatives, and friends. The Revs. Wesley E.
Thornberry and Wilma White conducted a Homecoming Service Mar. 20th at John Wesley UMC. A second
service was held on Mar. 21st at Lea & Pope Funeral Home, 215 S. McDaniel St., Enfield, N.C.
Trevor Cordel Banks, 26, of Harrisonburg, went home to be with the Lord, surrounded by loved ones on
Jan. 22, 2013, at University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, after a brave battle with PTSD. Trevor
was born Feb. 10, 1986, in Harrisonburg. He was the son of Felicia Banks Thomas and Robert L. “Bobby”
Harper, Jr., both of Harrisonburg. Trevor graduated from Harrisonburg High School in 2004; he went on to serve
his country as a member of the National Guard, 116th Infantry Alpha Co., 3rd Battalion for 6 years and served in
Iraq from 2007 to 2008. He was self-employed as a barber and worked for his dad’s family business, The
Cleaning People, Inc., for many years. He was a dedicated friend to many. In addition to his parents, Trevor is
survived by his son, Xavier Banks, his daughter, Imani Banks and their mother, Jennifer Millitch; brothers,
Malcolm Thomas and Robert Harper, III both of Harrisonburg; sisters, Kerine Thomas of New Jersey and Shanice
and Shauna Phillips of Harrisonburg, Gloria Thomas of Delaware; Maternal grandfather, Elmer C. Banks of
Harrisonburg; Paternal grandmother, Doris H. Allen of Harrisonburg; Uncles, Carlton Banks and wife, Shelia,
Con Banks and wife, Alison, Both of Harrisonburg, William ??Bill?쳌 Harper and wife, Thandi of Maryland;
Aunt, Belinda Harper of Georgia; a special friend, Charla Whitelow of Harrisonburg, and a host of great-aunts,
uncles and cousins. Funeral services were held Jan. 27th at Kyger Funeral Home in Harrisonburg. In lieu of
flowers, memorial donations were to be made to John Wesley UMC, c/o Carlye Whitelow, 100 Mt. Crawford
Ave. Bridgewater, VA 22812. The family would also like to thank Andrew “Shack” Curry and Ashby Jackson
for all of their love and support of Trevor.
Miss Altee D. Beal, 85, a resident of Harrisonburg, passed away Oct. 31, 2010, at Harrisonburg Health
and Rehabilitation Center. She was born Dec. 10, 1924, in Bridgewater, and was the daughter of the late Harrison
and Mary Alice Taylor Beal. Miss Beal lived most of her life in the Bridgewater and Harrisonburg areas and
graduated from the Lucy F. Simms High School. She was a housekeeper for a children’s home in Harrisonburg, a
sorority house at the University of Maryland, and a fraternity house in New York. She was also a housekeeper for
Dr. and Mrs. Carl Winters in Chicago, Ill., and a very faithful and caring housekeeper for Dr. Jean Wine in
Harrisonburg for 24 years. She was a faithful member of John Wesley UMC, the United Methodist Women, and
also sang in the church choir. She is survived by a number of nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-
nephews and great-great-nieces, and great-great-nephews. She was preceded in death by three sisters, Muriel
Whitelow, Meredith Beal, and Madge Brown; and a brother, Kern Beal. Miss Beal was cremated at Lindsey
Funeral Homes and Crematory in Harrisonburg. A graveside service was held Nov. 6th at Greenwood-Ames
Cemetery in Bridgewater. The same day at John Wesley UMC with the Rev. Wilma White officiating. Memorial
contributions may be made to John Wesley UMC, 445 Sterling St., Harrisonburg, VA 22802.
Rev. Alicia J. Blake, 50, formerly of Hagerstown, died Friday, Mar. 14, 2008, at
Millard Fillmore Gates Hospital, Buffalo, N.Y. Born May 5, 1957, in Winchester, she was the
daughter of the late Harmon G. and Mary L. (Davis) Byrd Sr. She was the wife of Pastor JT
Blake of Buffalo. Pastor Alicia was a graduate of James Wood High School (1971-75),
Frederick Co., Va., class of 1975. She also graduated from James Madison University (1975-
79), Harrisonburg, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communication Arts. Alicia later
obtained her Masters of Divinity Degree from Howard University School of Divinity in
II.B.3 John Wesley UMC 71 Volume 5
