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planted in memory of Marcia LaVerne Worsham
Obituary for Marcia LaVerne Worsham
The United States was trying to cope with the problems experienced in the aftermath of World War II. Our boys were returning home, and things were getting back to normal. Thomas Jacobs was excited to be home with his wife and young son, Tom, Jr. Life was good; however, on November 29, 1949, they became even more excited when Dr. Barnett announced the birth of their daughter. They named her Marcia LaVerne, but before long, she was dubbed “Mott.” They lived in the Armour and East Arcadia communities where both grandmothers and her grandfather lived. Leila Butts Jacobs was now the mother of the first Butts grandchild and her seven younger siblings were delighted. God saw Mott’s load getting heavy as she courageously battled cancer. He whispered to her, “Come, My child and rest.” Always obedient and gracious, she smiled, took His hand, and thanked Him for the intervention. Mott was preceded in death by her grandparents, her mother, her father, and her brother.
Quiet and studious, Mott attended the Armour High School through grade 10 when her parents had her transferred to the local, all white Acme-Delco High School under North Carolina’s “Freedom of Choice” attempt at integration. When school opened for the 1966-67 school year, Mott returned to Armour High where she excelled in all of her classes. In addition to being voted “Miss Armour High,” she was offered several scholarships, including one to Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina. While at JCSU, Mott was an outstanding student and pledged Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. through the Gamma Lambda Chapter. Blessed with beauty and brains, Mott was a campus queen multiple years and served as Associate Editor of the Golden Bull yearbook. Even before she graduated with honors, she was offered a teaching position in Amelia, Virginia. The family made the trip to Virginia, and Mott immediately fell in love with the location and the people. For more than forty years, she taught at Nottoway Middle School in nearby Crewe, Virginia, even continuing after retirement as site coordinator for the 21st Century Learning grant.
As a youth, Mott was very active in her home church, the Mount Pleasant African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. Upon her marriage to a Virginia boy, Clifton Randolph Worsham in 1972, she became an active member of the Manassa Hill Baptist Church, too. They later became dedicated members of the Restoration Church where she served on the Deaconess, Education, Sunday School, Missionary, Usher Ministries and as Church Clerk. From time to time, for over fifty years, she continued to support her home church, even inviting her brother to preach when he became an ordained minister. Although his health was not very good, when his little sister called, he gladly made the five-hour trip to Amelia. Their sister, Kaye, was no different. The family often told them that they acted like twins even though Mott was older and Kaye was known to head north at a moment’s notice if her big sister needed her.
Although they never had any children of their own, Mott and Randolph gladly welcomed their nieces and nephews to visit as often as possible. Even though she worked with children professionally, every year, she had one or two of her North Carolina nieces and nephews with her for the entire summer. The two families blended nicely, and they shared a kinship, nurtured by love of one another. She always had a special place in her heart for the children and grandchildren of her sister-in-law, Sherri, beginning with Tarsha and continuing to this day. Mott has always been a lover of family and has close relationships with many of her cousins. No matter the physical distance, when she saw nieces and nephews, she would hug the child, and whisper, “Come and give your Aunt Mott some sugar.” Her quiet mannerisms and her ready smile were welcome and her calm, reassuring presence will be missed in all of our lives.
Surviving to cherish the memories of their beloved wife, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend are her husband, Clifton Randolph Worsham; her sisters, Karen Jacobs Cherry and Doris Joseph; just like daughters, Tarsha Worsham Worrell and Courtney Worsham; just like sons, DeAndre’ and Xavier Worsham; a special nephew, Roderick Jacobs; special great-nieces, Desirae and Diamond Worsham; her sisters-in-law, Connie Blanks Jacobs, Mary Worsham Jackson, and Edith Worsham; her brothers-in-law, Thomas Worsham, Ernest Worsham (Katie), and William Worsham, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Viewing Wednesday, June16, 2021 from 1 to 7PM and Thursday, June 17, 2021 from 11AM to 7PM and family will visit with friends from 6 to 7PM.
Funeral Service Friday, June 18, 2021 at 12:00 Noon at Amelia High School, Amelia. Interment Restoration Church Cemetery, Amelia.
Michael W. Hawkes Funeral Home of Amelia in charge of arrangements.
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Quiet and studious, Mott attended the Armour High School through grade 10 when her parents had her transferred to the local, all white Acme-Delco High School under North Carolina’s “Freedom of Choice” attempt at integration. When school opened for the 1966-67 school year, Mott returned to Armour High where she excelled in all of her classes. In addition to being voted “Miss Armour High,” she was offered several scholarships, including one to Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina. While at JCSU, Mott was an outstanding student and pledged Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. through the Gamma Lambda Chapter. Blessed with beauty and brains, Mott was a campus queen multiple years and served as Associate Editor of the Golden Bull yearbook. Even before she graduated with honors, she was offered a teaching position in Amelia, Virginia. The family made the trip to Virginia, and Mott immediately fell in love with the location and the people. For more than forty years, she taught at Nottoway Middle School in nearby Crewe, Virginia, even continuing after retirement as site coordinator for the 21st Century Learning grant.
As a youth, Mott was very active in her home church, the Mount Pleasant African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. Upon her marriage to a Virginia boy, Clifton Randolph Worsham in 1972, she became an active member of the Manassa Hill Baptist Church, too. They later became dedicated members of the Restoration Church where she served on the Deaconess, Education, Sunday School, Missionary, Usher Ministries and as Church Clerk. From time to time, for over fifty years, she continued to support her home church, even inviting her brother to preach when he became an ordained minister. Although his health was not very good, when his little sister called, he gladly made the five-hour trip to Amelia. Their sister, Kaye, was no different. The family often told them that they acted like twins even though Mott was older and Kaye was known to head north at a moment’s notice if her big sister needed her.
Although they never had any children of their own, Mott and Randolph gladly welcomed their nieces and nephews to visit as often as possible. Even though she worked with children professionally, every year, she had one or two of her North Carolina nieces and nephews with her for the entire summer. The two families blended nicely, and they shared a kinship, nurtured by love of one another. She always had a special place in her heart for the children and grandchildren of her sister-in-law, Sherri, beginning with Tarsha and continuing to this day. Mott has always been a lover of family and has close relationships with many of her cousins. No matter the physical distance, when she saw nieces and nephews, she would hug the child, and whisper, “Come and give your Aunt Mott some sugar.” Her quiet mannerisms and her ready smile were welcome and her calm, reassuring presence will be missed in all of our lives.
Surviving to cherish the memories of their beloved wife, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend are her husband, Clifton Randolph Worsham; her sisters, Karen Jacobs Cherry and Doris Joseph; just like daughters, Tarsha Worsham Worrell and Courtney Worsham; just like sons, DeAndre’ and Xavier Worsham; a special nephew, Roderick Jacobs; special great-nieces, Desirae and Diamond Worsham; her sisters-in-law, Connie Blanks Jacobs, Mary Worsham Jackson, and Edith Worsham; her brothers-in-law, Thomas Worsham, Ernest Worsham (Katie), and William Worsham, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Viewing Wednesday, June16, 2021 from 1 to 7PM and Thursday, June 17, 2021 from 11AM to 7PM and family will visit with friends from 6 to 7PM.
Funeral Service Friday, June 18, 2021 at 12:00 Noon at Amelia High School, Amelia. Interment Restoration Church Cemetery, Amelia.
Michael W. Hawkes Funeral Home of Amelia in charge of arrangements.
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