Mother Marie Arrington-Sykes was born March 9, 1922 in Holland to the late Clara Knight and Johnny Daughtrey. She had two sisters, Mary Louise and Annie Virginia, and a brother, James Granberry, who all have preceded her in death. During her infancy, her family relocated to Suffolk, where she attended Booker T. Washington Elementary and High School.

Mother Sykes, received the Lord Jesus Christ into her life at an early age, attended Saint Paul Baptist Church, and later joined Greater Sweet Beulah Holiness Church. She shared her membership with Greater Sweet Beulah and Friendship Holiness Church.

In 1938, Mother Marie and Mr. James Harrison Arrington were blessed with their oldest daughter, Irma Lee Daughtrey, who has preceded her in death.

Although she had five children of her own, she opened her home and heart to other children in need and therefore became Mama not only to her five but also to four additional children.

She became the neighborhood “mom” to many children. Her home was always open to give love, which she showed to all who entered. After the death of Mr. Arrington, in September of 1987, Mother Marie married Mr. Sanford Sykes and remained faithful to this union until his death in 1998.

Not only was she a devoted wife, mother, domestic worker and caregiver to the families that she served, she was employed at Planters Peanut Factory and later became a nurse’s aide.

Left to cherish her memory are her children, Marie Estelle Pruden, James E. Arrington Sr., Marilynn Elaine Cross, Jency Denise Arrington-Jones, Carolyn Bess, Verlina Carroll, Leon Carroll and Annette Cross. She has one daughter-in-law, Linda Arrington; three sons-in-law, Harry Pruden, Christopher Cross and William Calvin Jones Jr.; a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends. A special thank you to her caretaker Miss Diane Meyers, who lovingly cared for Mama for the last year.

There will be a celebration of life at noon Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019, in the sanctuary of Greater Sweet Beulah Apostolic Pentecostal Holiness Church, 137 Maple Ave., Suffolk, VA 23434. The visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23, 2019, and the wake will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Both will take place in the sanctuary of St. John Pentecostal Holiness Church, 218 N. Division St., Suffolk, VA 23434. The family will receive friends at 1300 Sierra Drive and will assemble at 11 a.m. Saturday at 1029 Pitchkettle Road for the procession to the church. Burial will be at Carver Memorial Cemetery.

www.communityfh.com.