Obituary for Emma Virginia "Ma Gina" Douglas
Emma Virginia Croswell Dorn Douglas was born September 14, 1917, on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, to the late Rev. Roger Thomas and Mary Ethel Croswell. After living for 104 years and ten months, she entered the divine presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on July 27, 2022.
One of seven children, Emma attended a one-room school and walked two miles each way to get there. She graduated from Crisfield Colored High School in a class of only three. After graduating high school, she moved to Philadelphia, PA to work. After a few years in Philadelphia, she relocated back to Maryland. At the time, her father, Rev. R. T. Croswell, was a pastor in Mt. Vernon, Maryland. He was later transferred to Mt. Zion Methodist Church in Withams, Virginia. This is how the Croswell, Dorn, Douglas family landed in the state of Virginia.
At the tender age of fourteen, she accepted Christ in her life; from that point on, she was dedicated to His word. She received her certification from World Christian Ministries in 1998, becoming an Evangelist. Ms. Virginia, as she was affectionately called, was a blessing in the lives of those she met. She was a woman of faith who loved serving within her church community, and she enjoyed using her gifts and talents to bring joy to those around her. In her younger years, she was well-known for her melodious singing and playing the piano. She served as the organist at Mt. Zion for fifty years before she retired. She loved going to choir festivals, which was a tradition that was started by her father after coming to Mt. Zion Methodist Church.
Ms. Virginia was a staple in the Withams community. She lived in the same home on Withams Road since the 1970s. Children would go to her house to purchase candy from their neighborhood “candy lady.” Adults would often go to her for advice. She would share phrases such as: “Be true to yourself”; “Take one day at a time”; “Don’t worry about what you can’t change”; and “If God can’t fix it, no one can.”
In her earlier years, you could always find the three Douglas ladies (Virginia, Josephine, and Bea) together. They were partners in crime and could be seen together at many church functions wearing their beautiful, wide brimmed hats.
Many only knew her as “Ma Ginny.” This name was given to her by her granddaughter, Andrea, whom she raised from a baby. Andrea heard her grandmother being called “Virginia” by people in the community and “Mama” by her children. Andrea, being a two-year-old child, said “I don’t know which name is right,” and began to call her Ma Gina and the name stuck.
People loved to hear Ma Gina talk about the old days and the things that she experienced as a child growing up with no electricity, dirt roads, traveling to church by horse and buggy, walking miles to attend school, and holiday celebrations with no internet or smartphones. During her spare time, she could be found reading her bible and doing word search puzzles to keep her mind sharp. She was very quick-witted and could even be found driving as recently as two years ago, at the age of 102!
She was preceded in death by her parents, Rev. Roger and Mary Ethel Croswell; four brothers, Milton, Foster, Herschel, and Wilfred; two sisters, Mercedes and Elizabeth; one son, PFC Michael L. Dorn; and one great-grandson, Julian.
Her 100+ years of an exemplary life leave countless cherished memories by three children, Ronald Dorn (Sally) of Philadelphia, PA, Andrew Dorn (Gwen) of Parksley, VA, and Valeria Jones (Dean) of Delmar, MD; a granddaughter that she raised as her own, Andrea Marshall of Withams, VA; a nephew that was like a son to her, David Corbin (Pat) of Toms River, NJ; best friend, Josephine Douglas of Withams, VA; close friends, Alma Brim, Thomas Davis, Pauline Hall, Phyllis Wharton, and Marie Floyd; and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, other relatives, and friends.
Sorrowfully submitted,
The Family
One of seven children, Emma attended a one-room school and walked two miles each way to get there. She graduated from Crisfield Colored High School in a class of only three. After graduating high school, she moved to Philadelphia, PA to work. After a few years in Philadelphia, she relocated back to Maryland. At the time, her father, Rev. R. T. Croswell, was a pastor in Mt. Vernon, Maryland. He was later transferred to Mt. Zion Methodist Church in Withams, Virginia. This is how the Croswell, Dorn, Douglas family landed in the state of Virginia.
At the tender age of fourteen, she accepted Christ in her life; from that point on, she was dedicated to His word. She received her certification from World Christian Ministries in 1998, becoming an Evangelist. Ms. Virginia, as she was affectionately called, was a blessing in the lives of those she met. She was a woman of faith who loved serving within her church community, and she enjoyed using her gifts and talents to bring joy to those around her. In her younger years, she was well-known for her melodious singing and playing the piano. She served as the organist at Mt. Zion for fifty years before she retired. She loved going to choir festivals, which was a tradition that was started by her father after coming to Mt. Zion Methodist Church.
Ms. Virginia was a staple in the Withams community. She lived in the same home on Withams Road since the 1970s. Children would go to her house to purchase candy from their neighborhood “candy lady.” Adults would often go to her for advice. She would share phrases such as: “Be true to yourself”; “Take one day at a time”; “Don’t worry about what you can’t change”; and “If God can’t fix it, no one can.”
In her earlier years, you could always find the three Douglas ladies (Virginia, Josephine, and Bea) together. They were partners in crime and could be seen together at many church functions wearing their beautiful, wide brimmed hats.
Many only knew her as “Ma Ginny.” This name was given to her by her granddaughter, Andrea, whom she raised from a baby. Andrea heard her grandmother being called “Virginia” by people in the community and “Mama” by her children. Andrea, being a two-year-old child, said “I don’t know which name is right,” and began to call her Ma Gina and the name stuck.
People loved to hear Ma Gina talk about the old days and the things that she experienced as a child growing up with no electricity, dirt roads, traveling to church by horse and buggy, walking miles to attend school, and holiday celebrations with no internet or smartphones. During her spare time, she could be found reading her bible and doing word search puzzles to keep her mind sharp. She was very quick-witted and could even be found driving as recently as two years ago, at the age of 102!
She was preceded in death by her parents, Rev. Roger and Mary Ethel Croswell; four brothers, Milton, Foster, Herschel, and Wilfred; two sisters, Mercedes and Elizabeth; one son, PFC Michael L. Dorn; and one great-grandson, Julian.
Her 100+ years of an exemplary life leave countless cherished memories by three children, Ronald Dorn (Sally) of Philadelphia, PA, Andrew Dorn (Gwen) of Parksley, VA, and Valeria Jones (Dean) of Delmar, MD; a granddaughter that she raised as her own, Andrea Marshall of Withams, VA; a nephew that was like a son to her, David Corbin (Pat) of Toms River, NJ; best friend, Josephine Douglas of Withams, VA; close friends, Alma Brim, Thomas Davis, Pauline Hall, Phyllis Wharton, and Marie Floyd; and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, other relatives, and friends.
Sorrowfully submitted,
The Family