Mother Grace Elizabeth Watson Baskerville was born on January 6, 1916 to the late Jeremiah and Elizabeth Watson, in Louisa County, Virginia. There she attended the Louisa County Public Schools.
At age 15, she moved to Philadelphia, PA. As time passed, she relocated to Washington, D.C. where she met and married the late Rev. Willie B. Baskerville on June 19, 1941. At that time, she knew she had met a wonderful and handsome man, but she often said to herself, "what am I going to do with a preacher?" not knowing that God had called her to minister alongside "that preacher." There she embarked on a journey that would impact the lives of so many!
In 1950, Rev. Baskerville organized what later became known as the Rising Sun Baptist Church of Washington, DC. Mother Baskerville was one of the seven charter members and Rev. Baskerville's co-laborer. It was her idea to name the church "Rising Sun." Together, she and her husband did whatever it took to move the church forward. They would pick people up and bring them to church, there were always cook-outs in the yard of their home for the children of the church. Mother Baskerville was famous for her homemade pound cake, cheese biscuits, yeast rolls, cookies and her famous turkey salad whenever there was an occasion for feasting. She also hosted an Annual Tea in her home for years where all were welcome!
After the passing of Rev. Baskerville in January of 1977, Mother Baskerville remained committed, dedicated and faithful to the church. She was a strong woman of faith who was determined to see Rising Sun go on. She served under six pastors since the passing of her husband and never waived in her commitment to God and to the church. She served in a number of capacities including, First Lady, Deaconess, Trustee, and Mother, just to name a few. Mother Baskerville was a member of the "Ministers Wives and Widows Association of Washington, DC & Vicinity", an organization whose goal is to strengthen the bonds of friendship and fellowship amongst the ministers' wives. She worked on various committees, volunteered her services with programs at the Stoddard Baptist Home, worked on the Founders' Day Committee for the International Headquarters in Richmond, VA. She was the President of the "Friends Club," which met at various churches and held services. All monies raised would be used to support the church.
She worked as a domestic, and upon retirement she volunteered her services as a Sr. Citizen companion for years, reading to seniors and doing whatever she could to assist them.
On Saturday, February 21, 2009, Mother Baskerville transitioned from this life to life everlasting, leaving behind many to cherish her memory--two brothers, Robert (Edith) Watson and Hurley Watson of Mineral, VA; one sister-in-law and friend, Eleanora Baskerville of Washington, DC; five granddaughters; one grandson; five great-granddaughters; three great-great-grandchildren; and a host of relatives and friends.
Funeral services held 12 noon Wednesday, March 4, 2009, at New Line Baptist Church, 4876 New Line Road, Gum Spring, VA 23065, with the Rev. J. R. Coney as pastor and the Rev. Marlow L. Mitchell of the Rising Sun Baptist Church Washington, DC eulogist. Interment in the church cemetery.
Arrangements by Thomasson Watson Funeral Service, Inc.
At age 15, she moved to Philadelphia, PA. As time passed, she relocated to Washington, D.C. where she met and married the late Rev. Willie B. Baskerville on June 19, 1941. At that time, she knew she had met a wonderful and handsome man, but she often said to herself, "what am I going to do with a preacher?" not knowing that God had called her to minister alongside "that preacher." There she embarked on a journey that would impact the lives of so many!
In 1950, Rev. Baskerville organized what later became known as the Rising Sun Baptist Church of Washington, DC. Mother Baskerville was one of the seven charter members and Rev. Baskerville's co-laborer. It was her idea to name the church "Rising Sun." Together, she and her husband did whatever it took to move the church forward. They would pick people up and bring them to church, there were always cook-outs in the yard of their home for the children of the church. Mother Baskerville was famous for her homemade pound cake, cheese biscuits, yeast rolls, cookies and her famous turkey salad whenever there was an occasion for feasting. She also hosted an Annual Tea in her home for years where all were welcome!
After the passing of Rev. Baskerville in January of 1977, Mother Baskerville remained committed, dedicated and faithful to the church. She was a strong woman of faith who was determined to see Rising Sun go on. She served under six pastors since the passing of her husband and never waived in her commitment to God and to the church. She served in a number of capacities including, First Lady, Deaconess, Trustee, and Mother, just to name a few. Mother Baskerville was a member of the "Ministers Wives and Widows Association of Washington, DC & Vicinity", an organization whose goal is to strengthen the bonds of friendship and fellowship amongst the ministers' wives. She worked on various committees, volunteered her services with programs at the Stoddard Baptist Home, worked on the Founders' Day Committee for the International Headquarters in Richmond, VA. She was the President of the "Friends Club," which met at various churches and held services. All monies raised would be used to support the church.
She worked as a domestic, and upon retirement she volunteered her services as a Sr. Citizen companion for years, reading to seniors and doing whatever she could to assist them.
On Saturday, February 21, 2009, Mother Baskerville transitioned from this life to life everlasting, leaving behind many to cherish her memory--two brothers, Robert (Edith) Watson and Hurley Watson of Mineral, VA; one sister-in-law and friend, Eleanora Baskerville of Washington, DC; five granddaughters; one grandson; five great-granddaughters; three great-great-grandchildren; and a host of relatives and friends.
Funeral services held 12 noon Wednesday, March 4, 2009, at New Line Baptist Church, 4876 New Line Road, Gum Spring, VA 23065, with the Rev. J. R. Coney as pastor and the Rev. Marlow L. Mitchell of the Rising Sun Baptist Church Washington, DC eulogist. Interment in the church cemetery.
Arrangements by Thomasson Watson Funeral Service, Inc.
Mother Grace Elizabeth Watson Baskerville was born on January 6, 1916 to the late Jeremiah and Elizabeth Watson, in Louisa County, Virginia. There she attended the Louisa County Public Schools.
At age 15, she moved to Philadelphia, PA. As time passed, she relocated to Washington, D.C. where she met and married the late Rev. Willie B. Baskerville on June 19, 1941. At that time, she knew she had met a wonderful and handsome man, but she often said to herself, "what am I going to do with a preacher?" not knowing that God had called her to minister alongside "that preacher." There she embarked on a journey that would impact the lives of so many!
In 1950, Rev. Baskerville organized what later became known as the Rising Sun Baptist Church of Washington, DC. Mother Baskerville was one of the seven charter members and Rev. Baskerville's co-laborer. It was her idea to name the church "Rising Sun." Together, she and her husband did whatever it took to move the church forward. They would pick people up and bring them to church, there were always cook-outs in the yard of their home for the children of the church. Mother Baskerville was famous for her homemade pound cake, cheese biscuits, yeast rolls, cookies and her famous turkey salad whenever there was an occasion for feasting. She also hosted an Annual Tea in her home for years where all were welcome!
After the passing of Rev. Baskerville in January of 1977, Mother Baskerville remained committed, dedicated and faithful to the church. She was a strong woman of faith who was determined to see Rising Sun go on. She served under six pastors since the passing of her husband and never waived in her commitment to God and to the church. She served in a number of capacities including, First Lady, Deaconess, Trustee, and Mother, just to name a few. Mother Baskerville was a member of the "Ministers Wives and Widows Association of Washington, DC & Vicinity", an organization whose goal is to strengthen the bonds of friendship and fellowship amongst the ministers' wives. She worked on various committees, volunteered her services with programs at the Stoddard Baptist Home, worked on the Founders' Day Committee for the International Headquarters in Richmond, VA. She was the President of the "Friends Club," which met at various churches and held services. All monies raised would be used to support the church.
She worked as a domestic, and upon retirement she volunteered her services as a Sr. Citizen companion for years, reading to seniors and doing whatever she could to assist them.
On Saturday, February 21, 2009, Mother Baskerville transitioned from this life to life everlasting, leaving behind many to cherish her memory--two brothers, Robert (Edith) Watson and Hurley Watson of Mineral, VA; one sister-in-law and friend, Eleanora Baskerville of Washington, DC; five granddaughters; one grandson; five great-granddaughters; three great-great-grandchildren; and a host of relatives and friends.
Funeral services held 12 noon Wednesday, March 4, 2009, at New Line Baptist Church, 4876 New Line Road, Gum Spring, VA 23065, with the Rev. J. R. Coney as pastor and the Rev. Marlow L. Mitchell of the Rising Sun Baptist Church Washington, DC eulogist. Interment in the church cemetery.
Arrangements by Thomasson Watson Funeral Service, Inc.
At age 15, she moved to Philadelphia, PA. As time passed, she relocated to Washington, D.C. where she met and married the late Rev. Willie B. Baskerville on June 19, 1941. At that time, she knew she had met a wonderful and handsome man, but she often said to herself, "what am I going to do with a preacher?" not knowing that God had called her to minister alongside "that preacher." There she embarked on a journey that would impact the lives of so many!
In 1950, Rev. Baskerville organized what later became known as the Rising Sun Baptist Church of Washington, DC. Mother Baskerville was one of the seven charter members and Rev. Baskerville's co-laborer. It was her idea to name the church "Rising Sun." Together, she and her husband did whatever it took to move the church forward. They would pick people up and bring them to church, there were always cook-outs in the yard of their home for the children of the church. Mother Baskerville was famous for her homemade pound cake, cheese biscuits, yeast rolls, cookies and her famous turkey salad whenever there was an occasion for feasting. She also hosted an Annual Tea in her home for years where all were welcome!
After the passing of Rev. Baskerville in January of 1977, Mother Baskerville remained committed, dedicated and faithful to the church. She was a strong woman of faith who was determined to see Rising Sun go on. She served under six pastors since the passing of her husband and never waived in her commitment to God and to the church. She served in a number of capacities including, First Lady, Deaconess, Trustee, and Mother, just to name a few. Mother Baskerville was a member of the "Ministers Wives and Widows Association of Washington, DC & Vicinity", an organization whose goal is to strengthen the bonds of friendship and fellowship amongst the ministers' wives. She worked on various committees, volunteered her services with programs at the Stoddard Baptist Home, worked on the Founders' Day Committee for the International Headquarters in Richmond, VA. She was the President of the "Friends Club," which met at various churches and held services. All monies raised would be used to support the church.
She worked as a domestic, and upon retirement she volunteered her services as a Sr. Citizen companion for years, reading to seniors and doing whatever she could to assist them.
On Saturday, February 21, 2009, Mother Baskerville transitioned from this life to life everlasting, leaving behind many to cherish her memory--two brothers, Robert (Edith) Watson and Hurley Watson of Mineral, VA; one sister-in-law and friend, Eleanora Baskerville of Washington, DC; five granddaughters; one grandson; five great-granddaughters; three great-great-grandchildren; and a host of relatives and friends.
Funeral services held 12 noon Wednesday, March 4, 2009, at New Line Baptist Church, 4876 New Line Road, Gum Spring, VA 23065, with the Rev. J. R. Coney as pastor and the Rev. Marlow L. Mitchell of the Rising Sun Baptist Church Washington, DC eulogist. Interment in the church cemetery.
Arrangements by Thomasson Watson Funeral Service, Inc.
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