December 26, 2011

Elizabeth Henderson, 86, died peacefully Monday, Dec. 26, 2011, at Consulate Health Care in Windsor, Va. A native of Nansemond County (Somerton), she was the daughter of the late Leonard P. Bellamy and Ida Bellamy Cross. Bess was reared by her maternal aunt, the late Hannah Mae and Williams Alfred Cuff, of Holland, Va.

She was a homemaker and a member of Galatians United Church of Christ, Suffolk. She was an active member of Galatians’ Unity Choir until her health began to fail and the church’s only “tambourine player.” She was a graduate of Nansemond County Training School and lived many of her early years, after graduation, in New York and New Jersey. She was the widow of the late Rev. George W. Henderson.

She leaves to cherish her memory: one daughter, Patricia B. Burdell, of Virginia Beach, Va.; a son, Arnold H. Beard Sr. (sister-in-law, the Rev. Madelene), of Suffolk; three sisters, Margie Montague and Helen Lee, of Suffolk, and Lillie Mae Lee, of Maryland; four grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was predeceased by three brothers, Phillip Bellamy, James Bellamy and Kary Bellamy; two sisters, Joyce Copeland and Linda Brown.

A memorial service will be conducted Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012, at 1 p.m. in Galatians United Church of Christ, Suffolk, by the Rev. Dr. Madelene F. Beard, pastor. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Galatians UCC Building Fund. Crocker Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be extended to the family at www.crockerfuneralhome.com.