Obituary for Margaret Ann "Cheese" Downing (Dennis)
Come unto me and I will give your rest. ~Matthew 11:28
Margaret Ann Dennis Downing, daughter of the late Nelson West and Roslen (Will) Rayfield, took her heavenly flight on August 25, 2022 at her residence in Bloxom, Virginia.
“Cheese,” as she was known, was born on May 27, 1945 in Parksley, Virginia. She received her education in the public schools of Accomack County and graduated from Mary Nottingham Smith High School in 1964.
On February 18, 1967, she married the love of her life, Louis McKinley Downing. Their union was blessed with four children. They moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvannia, where Margaret was a stay-at-home mom and loving wife. In 1982, they returned to Parksley, Virginia. Upon her return to the Eastern Shore, she gained employment as a dietary aide. She was employed at the Accomack County Nursing Home, later named Shore Life Care. Her food was delicious and loved by many.
Margaret was a member of New Metompkin Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Ricardo Poulson, Sr. She was a faithful member until her health began to fail.
Margaret loved to cook and dance, but most of all she loved spending time with her family and friends.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Louis McKinley Downing; sister, Dorothy D. Matthews; grandson, Dynell Downing; brother, Elijah West; and an aunt that she loved as a sister, Mary Ann Savage.
Margaret is survived by her four children, Denise D. Downing (Kevin), Dexter Dennis, Sonya Downing-Justice (Larry), and Sherrye Downing-Abbott (James); sister, Varletta Dennis; brother, Nelson Ridley (Cherie); grandchildren, Marquis, Antwine, Marcus, Edwin, Tasric, Demetrice, and Jameson; sixteen great-grandchildren; three great, great-grandchildren; five sisters-in-law, Lillis Brittingham, Gail Downing, Grace Ridley, Gloria Woods, and Margie Young; stepmother, Frances West; Tina Jacobs, who was like a daughter to her and she loved dearly; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends.
Sadly submitted,
The Family
Margaret Ann Dennis Downing, daughter of the late Nelson West and Roslen (Will) Rayfield, took her heavenly flight on August 25, 2022 at her residence in Bloxom, Virginia.
“Cheese,” as she was known, was born on May 27, 1945 in Parksley, Virginia. She received her education in the public schools of Accomack County and graduated from Mary Nottingham Smith High School in 1964.
On February 18, 1967, she married the love of her life, Louis McKinley Downing. Their union was blessed with four children. They moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvannia, where Margaret was a stay-at-home mom and loving wife. In 1982, they returned to Parksley, Virginia. Upon her return to the Eastern Shore, she gained employment as a dietary aide. She was employed at the Accomack County Nursing Home, later named Shore Life Care. Her food was delicious and loved by many.
Margaret was a member of New Metompkin Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Ricardo Poulson, Sr. She was a faithful member until her health began to fail.
Margaret loved to cook and dance, but most of all she loved spending time with her family and friends.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Louis McKinley Downing; sister, Dorothy D. Matthews; grandson, Dynell Downing; brother, Elijah West; and an aunt that she loved as a sister, Mary Ann Savage.
Margaret is survived by her four children, Denise D. Downing (Kevin), Dexter Dennis, Sonya Downing-Justice (Larry), and Sherrye Downing-Abbott (James); sister, Varletta Dennis; brother, Nelson Ridley (Cherie); grandchildren, Marquis, Antwine, Marcus, Edwin, Tasric, Demetrice, and Jameson; sixteen great-grandchildren; three great, great-grandchildren; five sisters-in-law, Lillis Brittingham, Gail Downing, Grace Ridley, Gloria Woods, and Margie Young; stepmother, Frances West; Tina Jacobs, who was like a daughter to her and she loved dearly; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends.
Sadly submitted,
The Family