Viola Christine Arrington

Published 9:48 pm Monday, May 20, 2013

Viola Christine Arrington, 81, of Stacey Drive, heard the Lord whisper her name and entered into eternal rest on Friday, May 17, 2013, surrounded by loved ones. She was born on Aug. 21, 1931, in Suffolk (Nansemond County), to the late Rosetta and John Calvin Butts.

Arrington

Arrington

She was educated in Suffolk Public Schools. She was employed at the Basket Factory for many years, Planters and General Electric.

She was a faithful member of Bethlehem Christian Church for many years. Most recently, she became a member of Greater First Baptist Church-Orlando.

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She was preceded in death by her son, Sylvester Arrington; three sisters: Elma Boone, Mildred Thomas and Dorothy Butts; three brothers: Lewis (Mack) Butts, John T. Butts and Raymond Butts.

Christine leaves to cherish her beautiful memory, nine children: Percy Arrington, of Newport News, Ronald Arrington, Lester Arrington (Theresa), Wesley Arrington (Bettina), Victor Arrington, Carter Arrington (Sandra), Donna Arrington, Beth Arrington, all of Suffolk, and Faye Arrington, of Portsmouth; two stepsons, Sylvester “Jake” Joyner of Compton, Calif., and Herbert Jones, of Norfolk; 24 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; sister, Alice B. Daniels; two sisters-in-law: Joyce Butts, of Philadelphia, Pa., and Regina Butts, of Norfolk; a lifelong friend, Raymond Wright; and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Ms. Arrington will be on view at the funeral home on Wednesday from noon to 7 p.m., and the family will greet guests from 5 to 7 p.m. A celebration of life service will take place on Thursday at noon at Greater First Baptist Church-Orlando, and she will be laid to rest in the T.E. Cooke-Overton Garden of Carver Memorial Cemetery.

Expressions of sympathy and flowers may be extended to the family at www.cookeovertonfuneralhome.com.

Professional services are entrusted to T.E. Cooke-Overton Funeral Home Inc.