Jennie Feggins

Obituary For Jennie Feggins

A ROYAL HOME GOING CELEBRATION FOR Mother Jennie Ann Baskerville Feggins "Ma Jennie"

VIEWING: Friday, May 24, 2019 Time: 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM

WAKE SERVICE: A Gospel Tribute Saturday, May 25, 2019 Time: 3:00 PM at Free Union Church 8631 Goodes Ferry Road, Bracey, VA 23919 Rev. Sharon Baskerville, Mistress of Ceremonies

CELEBRATION OF LIFE SERVICE: Sunday, May 26, 2019 Time: 1:00 PM at the New RZUA Headquarters and Conference Center 2504 Rocky Branch Road, LaCrosse, VA 23950 Elder John Jordan, Pastor/Eulogist Rev. Dr. Bryan Crute, Presiding

Please wear purple in honor of Ma Jennie

INTERMENT: Monday, May 27, 2019 Time: 12:00 Noon Oakwood Cemetery South Hill, VA

OBITUARY

If I can help somebody, as I travel along

If I can help somebody, with a word or song

If I can help somebody, from doing wrong

Then, my living shall not be in vain.

MOTHER JENNIE ANN BASKERVILLE FEGGINS, affectionately called “Ma Jennie”, was born on September 14, 1925 to the late Riddick and Idelle Tisdale Baskerville in Radcliff, VA. The Lord chose not to have Jennie Ann worry about her health nor burden her with the cares of this world any longer. Therefore on the blessed afternoon at 5:04 PM at her home on May 16, 2019, surrounded by her loving and devoted children, grandchildren, and sister, God pinched the nostril of our beloved and sent a chariot from heaven to usher her in her new mansion in heaven.

Jennie Ann was married to the late George Washington Feggins on May 9, 1946 and to this union 8 children were born, 4 girls and 4 boys. She was preceded in death by: two sons- Woodrow “Sonny” Baskerville, Andrew Lee Feggins; grandchildren- Calvin Lamont Feggins, Jorel Chavis, Andre Lee Feggins, Cassandra Meredith; two brothers- Richard and Willie Baskerville; others she adopted and kept in her home- Rev. John Bagby, Rev. John Northington, Rev. Johnnie Johnson, Rev. William Merritt, O.B. Bragg, Mamie “Suebuck” Phillips, Larry Jiggetts, Richard “Dickey” Hayes, Byron Feggins, Robert “Buckey” Wilson, and Nathaniel Baskerville.

At an early age, Jennie Ann was baptized and joined the former Free Union RZUA Church, Bracey, VA where she loved, loved, loved her church and was a faithful member until her demise. One who stood up and took care of her church physically, spiritually, and financially. Whether it was spear-heading programs, having food for different events, making sure the Pastor was well taken care of, or having various fundraisers especially those penny, nickel, dime, and quarter gleaners. She served in various capacities of the church namely: Mother/Deaconess, President of Missionary Society, President of the Pastor’s Aide, Treasurer of Sunday School, President of Senior Choir, Advisor of the Junior, Tot, and Chancel Choirs, and Advisor of the Rising Zion Youth Society. Mother Feggins took her children and children in the area to Sunday School/Church Service and made sure they had money to put in the offering plate. When Free Union didn’t have a pianist for church service, she would send Tawanda to go pick up Arlton and Jerome until they were able to drive themselves.

Mother Feggins also adored the RZUA Churches of America connection in LaCrosse, VA where she served in many capacities: member of the Women’s Home Mission Convention for over 45 years where she became President in 1994, President of RZUA Headquarters Chorus, member of the Publication Board, Advisor of the Rising Zion Youth Society, member of the Sunday School Convention and she was the overseer of the kitchen committee who served for all the conferences/conventions, New Year’s Day and Founder’s Day Services.

Jennie Ann was educated and graduated from Mecklenburg County Training School and furthered her training skills to become a beautician. She owned and operated Jennie’s Beauty Shop for 65 plus years with her co-worker, Ola Russell. Together they assisted in forming the MLB (Mecklenburg, Lunenburg, Brunswick) Chapter of Beauticians. On December 1, 1974, Jennie and George opened Feggins Funeral Home located at 409 South Hill Avenue, South Hill, VA 23970, where George was the mortician and Jennie was the beautician.

Jennie Ann civic capacities included: member of the NAACP, AARP, the Fleur-dis-Lis Club of South Hill, VA, Past Matron and 50 year member of Carnation Chapter #171 Order of Eastern Star Prince Hall Affiliation of VA, Past Most Noble of House Hold of Ruth #5430, member of the Democratic Voter’s League, Mother of the Soul Gathering Club, and President of Busy Bee Social Club. She was also a Girl Scout Troop Leader and 4-H Leader. She would have dances in her basement and charge everyone a quarter for singles and thirty-five cents for couples for fundraisers for her troop.

Ma Jennie was a person who never met a stranger. Her motto was “If I can help somebody...then my living shall not be in vain.” She opened her heart and doors to all who needed a place to stay, no matter what your circumstances were. She adored cooking and she didn’t measure any ingredients, whether dry or liquid. Ma Jennie would cook enough food to feed her household plus anyone else. Her favorite dishes she loved to prepare were potato salad, sweet potato pies, corn pudding, grated sweet potato pudding, cucumber salad and bean salad just to name a few. She would say “I may not have any money to give you but I can feed you.” Whenever guests came by she told them “Look a here baby, come on in and make yourself at home.”

When Ma Jennie wasn’t travelling to her obligations, she loved watching the Judge TV Shows, Steve Harvey, and Family Feud. She adorned flowers. She would have the children bring her plants (all 50 of them) from out of the basement at springtime where she would repot, redirt, bring the dead plants back to life and sat all of them on the porch. Then when fall came, the children had to tote them back in the basement.

Ma Jennie had her Royal Celebration for her 90th Birthday and it brought tears to her eyes to see so many who came and supported her far and near on that Grand Celebration day especially when Mayor Earl Horne gave her the key to the town of South Hill. She stated “At my age: I’ve seen it all, done it all, heard it all, I just can’t remember it all!”

Ma Jennie leaves to celebrate and continue her legacy: five daughters- Yvonne Jiggetts, Lillie Feggins-Boone, Georgia “Lottie” Harrison, Tawanda Feggins Walker, and Theresa Smith; two sons- Calvin and Fredrick Feggins; four Sons-in-law, Tyrone Jiggetts, Robert Boone, Arthur Walker, Jr., and Andrew Smith; Grandchildren she reared- Channetta (Gary) Alexander, Cedric (Tyeisha) Feggins, Chelsee (Tracey) Feggins, and George Feggins, II; other Grandchildren- Cheryl (Tyrone) Fennell, Wayne Baskerville, Maurice Jiggetts, Tracey (Richard) Singleton, Andrenna (Richard) Kalejaiye, Aldrena Walker (Neil Watkins), and Tiffany Gibson; Great-grandchildren- Jabria and Tyronea Jiggetts, Avahne and Ramya Singleton, JaQuan and T’asia “TT” Brooks, Cedric “CJ” II, Cekea, Cergeo, and Cenise Feggins, Cekita Harrison, Ca’Mari Feggins, DaGion Alexander, Mason Chavis, Carter Gibson, and Nyheem Watkins; three sisters- a devoted caregiver- Frances B. Jones, Eleanor (Rev. Willie) Tisdale, and Mildred (Nate) Bing; six Sisters-in-law, Mertis and Avon Baskerville, Ernestine, Isabelle, Phalinda and Margaret Feggins, three daughters-in-law, Sarah Baskerville, Betty Jean Feggins, and Evangelist Carol Merritt; Godchildren- Jennie V. (Bill) Ferguson, Dr. Carl Baskerville, Gladys (Calvin) Williams, Rev. Dr. Bryan Crute, Kevin “Dooley” Royster; her adoptive children- Alfred (Rev. Sharon) Baskerville, Helen (Ralph) Best, Theresa Lewis, Phyllis Winckler, Maxine (Timothy) Blunt, Linda Harris, Elizabeth “Bet” Sheppard, Etta White, Adam Goode, Travis Hayes, and Richard “Rich” Ferguson.