ARSIA B. HENRY BARKSDALE slipped into eternal rest at her residence about the hour of half past ten on Tuesday evening, May 8, 2012 after a brief illness. The daughter of the late Prudencia Henry Thompson, Arsia was born May 4, 1917 and reared by the late Inmon and Madella F. Henry along with her eight brothers and sisters in Java, Virginia. Arsia received her education at the Old Ebenezer School in Pickaway, Virginia. At an early age, she confessed her life to Christ and was baptized at Ebenezer Baptist Church, where she served as church clerk as well as an usher.
She was married to the late David "Dave" Barksdale. As a young man, Dave was a farmer who lived "up the road apiece." They became the proud parents of four boys and one girl. In 1942, Arsia and Dave came to Chester, Pennsylvania, leaving behind the hard work of the farm and no pay, to pursue a better life. Upon arriving in Chester, Arsia immediately joined Temple Baptist Church, then located at Sixth and Parker Streets. She joined the choir and was the oldest remaining member. She was also a member of the Progressive Heart and Hand Club, Sunday School, Maryland and Virginia Club, and The Sisterhood of Temple. She also belonged to the social club, Versatile Twelve. After moving to Chester, Arsia and Dave became the parents of three girls. Arsia was a domestic engineer employed by the McCorkle and Dickson families of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, who relocated to Brunswick, Maine. Through the years, Arsia continued her relation with their off-springs. In addition, Arsia was a self-employed seamstress, who was top notch in the profession. She often gave her skill and talent in the community without pay. She also entered night school for tailoring and became excellent at both professions. She retired after her accident in 2003.
Arsia loved word puzzles, jig-saw puzzles, reading newspapers, and traveling. Her passion, however, was for flowers and lifting the spirits of others. Life gave her great joy in visiting the sick and shut-in at home or in the hospital. She called her visits, "drop-ins". She was a very outspoken and kind-hearted person who loved company. Never was there a time when you visited her home that she did not invite you to stay for lunch or dinner or to spend the night. At her home, the welcome sign stated, "Do Drop Inn". Always an active person, one would see her driving around town with the young people in her car, the old celebrity chevy or mercury, breezing through the stop signs and always late.
Her love for family extended beyond her own. She was instrumental in starting the FGHT Reunion. She was a great supporter of activities and served as president for several years. She only missed three reunions, 1981, 2003 and 2012. Arsia's memory was like a library. She was a walking historian who could tell you about the family members and how they were related. To let her tell it, "everybody from Pittsylvania County was related." Arsia was predeceased by her husband, Dave; son, Gordon; daughter, Valarie; grandson, Jeffrey; sisters, Leonia, Ruby, Rebecca, and Velma; brothers, James Downie and Gonnie.
She leaves to remember her in love: sons, David (Marlene) of Chester, Pennsylvania, Carl (Rose) of Burlington, North Carolina, and Henry (Betty) of Richmond, Virginia; daughters, Thelma Fletcher, Evelyn (Cookie) Barksdale of Chester, Pennsylvania and Cheryl (John) of Washington, D.C.; adopted daughters, Margaret Miller and Darlene Nelson; one brother, Herman Henry of Java, Virginia and sister, Rosa Terry of Danville, Virginia,; three sisters-in-law, Fannie Barksdale of Danville, Virginia, Lucy Henry and Rebecca Barksdale of Java, Virginia; best friend, Mrs. Lily Banks; thirteen grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren. She also leaves a legacy of friends, cousins, nieces, nephews, her family from Maine and her beloved church family at Temple Baptist Church.
She was married to the late David "Dave" Barksdale. As a young man, Dave was a farmer who lived "up the road apiece." They became the proud parents of four boys and one girl. In 1942, Arsia and Dave came to Chester, Pennsylvania, leaving behind the hard work of the farm and no pay, to pursue a better life. Upon arriving in Chester, Arsia immediately joined Temple Baptist Church, then located at Sixth and Parker Streets. She joined the choir and was the oldest remaining member. She was also a member of the Progressive Heart and Hand Club, Sunday School, Maryland and Virginia Club, and The Sisterhood of Temple. She also belonged to the social club, Versatile Twelve. After moving to Chester, Arsia and Dave became the parents of three girls. Arsia was a domestic engineer employed by the McCorkle and Dickson families of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, who relocated to Brunswick, Maine. Through the years, Arsia continued her relation with their off-springs. In addition, Arsia was a self-employed seamstress, who was top notch in the profession. She often gave her skill and talent in the community without pay. She also entered night school for tailoring and became excellent at both professions. She retired after her accident in 2003.
Arsia loved word puzzles, jig-saw puzzles, reading newspapers, and traveling. Her passion, however, was for flowers and lifting the spirits of others. Life gave her great joy in visiting the sick and shut-in at home or in the hospital. She called her visits, "drop-ins". She was a very outspoken and kind-hearted person who loved company. Never was there a time when you visited her home that she did not invite you to stay for lunch or dinner or to spend the night. At her home, the welcome sign stated, "Do Drop Inn". Always an active person, one would see her driving around town with the young people in her car, the old celebrity chevy or mercury, breezing through the stop signs and always late.
Her love for family extended beyond her own. She was instrumental in starting the FGHT Reunion. She was a great supporter of activities and served as president for several years. She only missed three reunions, 1981, 2003 and 2012. Arsia's memory was like a library. She was a walking historian who could tell you about the family members and how they were related. To let her tell it, "everybody from Pittsylvania County was related." Arsia was predeceased by her husband, Dave; son, Gordon; daughter, Valarie; grandson, Jeffrey; sisters, Leonia, Ruby, Rebecca, and Velma; brothers, James Downie and Gonnie.
She leaves to remember her in love: sons, David (Marlene) of Chester, Pennsylvania, Carl (Rose) of Burlington, North Carolina, and Henry (Betty) of Richmond, Virginia; daughters, Thelma Fletcher, Evelyn (Cookie) Barksdale of Chester, Pennsylvania and Cheryl (John) of Washington, D.C.; adopted daughters, Margaret Miller and Darlene Nelson; one brother, Herman Henry of Java, Virginia and sister, Rosa Terry of Danville, Virginia,; three sisters-in-law, Fannie Barksdale of Danville, Virginia, Lucy Henry and Rebecca Barksdale of Java, Virginia; best friend, Mrs. Lily Banks; thirteen grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren. She also leaves a legacy of friends, cousins, nieces, nephews, her family from Maine and her beloved church family at Temple Baptist Church.
ARSIA B. HENRY BARKSDALE slipped into eternal rest at her residence about the hour of half past ten on Tuesday evening, May 8, 2012 after a brief illness. The daughter of the late Prudencia Henry Thompson, Arsia was born May 4, 1917 and reared by the late Inmon and Madella F. Henry along with her eight brothers and sisters in Java, Virginia. Arsia received her education at the Old Ebenezer School in Pickaway, Virginia. At an early age, she confessed her life to Christ and was baptized at Ebenezer Baptist Church, where she served as church clerk as well as an usher.
She was married to the late David "Dave" Barksdale. As a young man, Dave was a farmer who lived "up the road apiece." They became the proud parents of four boys and one girl. In 1942, Arsia and Dave came to Chester, Pennsylvania, leaving behind the hard work of the farm and no pay, to pursue a better life. Upon arriving in Chester, Arsia immediately joined Temple Baptist Church, then located at Sixth and Parker Streets. She joined the choir and was the oldest remaining member. She was also a member of the Progressive Heart and Hand Club, Sunday School, Maryland and Virginia Club, and The Sisterhood of Temple. She also belonged to the social club, Versatile Twelve. After moving to Chester, Arsia and Dave became the parents of three girls. Arsia was a domestic engineer employed by the McCorkle and Dickson families of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, who relocated to Brunswick, Maine. Through the years, Arsia continued her relation with their off-springs. In addition, Arsia was a self-employed seamstress, who was top notch in the profession. She often gave her skill and talent in the community without pay. She also entered night school for tailoring and became excellent at both professions. She retired after her accident in 2003.
Arsia loved word puzzles, jig-saw puzzles, reading newspapers, and traveling. Her passion, however, was for flowers and lifting the spirits of others. Life gave her great joy in visiting the sick and shut-in at home or in the hospital. She called her visits, "drop-ins". She was a very outspoken and kind-hearted person who loved company. Never was there a time when you visited her home that she did not invite you to stay for lunch or dinner or to spend the night. At her home, the welcome sign stated, "Do Drop Inn". Always an active person, one would see her driving around town with the young people in her car, the old celebrity chevy or mercury, breezing through the stop signs and always late.
Her love for family extended beyond her own. She was instrumental in starting the FGHT Reunion. She was a great supporter of activities and served as president for several years. She only missed three reunions, 1981, 2003 and 2012. Arsia's memory was like a library. She was a walking historian who could tell you about the family members and how they were related. To let her tell it, "everybody from Pittsylvania County was related." Arsia was predeceased by her husband, Dave; son, Gordon; daughter, Valarie; grandson, Jeffrey; sisters, Leonia, Ruby, Rebecca, and Velma; brothers, James Downie and Gonnie.
She leaves to remember her in love: sons, David (Marlene) of Chester, Pennsylvania, Carl (Rose) of Burlington, North Carolina, and Henry (Betty) of Richmond, Virginia; daughters, Thelma Fletcher, Evelyn (Cookie) Barksdale of Chester, Pennsylvania and Cheryl (John) of Washington, D.C.; adopted daughters, Margaret Miller and Darlene Nelson; one brother, Herman Henry of Java, Virginia and sister, Rosa Terry of Danville, Virginia,; three sisters-in-law, Fannie Barksdale of Danville, Virginia, Lucy Henry and Rebecca Barksdale of Java, Virginia; best friend, Mrs. Lily Banks; thirteen grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren. She also leaves a legacy of friends, cousins, nieces, nephews, her family from Maine and her beloved church family at Temple Baptist Church.
She was married to the late David "Dave" Barksdale. As a young man, Dave was a farmer who lived "up the road apiece." They became the proud parents of four boys and one girl. In 1942, Arsia and Dave came to Chester, Pennsylvania, leaving behind the hard work of the farm and no pay, to pursue a better life. Upon arriving in Chester, Arsia immediately joined Temple Baptist Church, then located at Sixth and Parker Streets. She joined the choir and was the oldest remaining member. She was also a member of the Progressive Heart and Hand Club, Sunday School, Maryland and Virginia Club, and The Sisterhood of Temple. She also belonged to the social club, Versatile Twelve. After moving to Chester, Arsia and Dave became the parents of three girls. Arsia was a domestic engineer employed by the McCorkle and Dickson families of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, who relocated to Brunswick, Maine. Through the years, Arsia continued her relation with their off-springs. In addition, Arsia was a self-employed seamstress, who was top notch in the profession. She often gave her skill and talent in the community without pay. She also entered night school for tailoring and became excellent at both professions. She retired after her accident in 2003.
Arsia loved word puzzles, jig-saw puzzles, reading newspapers, and traveling. Her passion, however, was for flowers and lifting the spirits of others. Life gave her great joy in visiting the sick and shut-in at home or in the hospital. She called her visits, "drop-ins". She was a very outspoken and kind-hearted person who loved company. Never was there a time when you visited her home that she did not invite you to stay for lunch or dinner or to spend the night. At her home, the welcome sign stated, "Do Drop Inn". Always an active person, one would see her driving around town with the young people in her car, the old celebrity chevy or mercury, breezing through the stop signs and always late.
Her love for family extended beyond her own. She was instrumental in starting the FGHT Reunion. She was a great supporter of activities and served as president for several years. She only missed three reunions, 1981, 2003 and 2012. Arsia's memory was like a library. She was a walking historian who could tell you about the family members and how they were related. To let her tell it, "everybody from Pittsylvania County was related." Arsia was predeceased by her husband, Dave; son, Gordon; daughter, Valarie; grandson, Jeffrey; sisters, Leonia, Ruby, Rebecca, and Velma; brothers, James Downie and Gonnie.
She leaves to remember her in love: sons, David (Marlene) of Chester, Pennsylvania, Carl (Rose) of Burlington, North Carolina, and Henry (Betty) of Richmond, Virginia; daughters, Thelma Fletcher, Evelyn (Cookie) Barksdale of Chester, Pennsylvania and Cheryl (John) of Washington, D.C.; adopted daughters, Margaret Miller and Darlene Nelson; one brother, Herman Henry of Java, Virginia and sister, Rosa Terry of Danville, Virginia,; three sisters-in-law, Fannie Barksdale of Danville, Virginia, Lucy Henry and Rebecca Barksdale of Java, Virginia; best friend, Mrs. Lily Banks; thirteen grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren. She also leaves a legacy of friends, cousins, nieces, nephews, her family from Maine and her beloved church family at Temple Baptist Church.
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