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MINERVA TERRY WAS BORN ON FEBRUARY 25, 1921 IN HALIFAX COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA. HER PARENTS WERE MISS IONE TONEY AND MR. WELDON TERRY. SHE ATTENDED PINEY GROVE AND QUANKEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. HER FORMAL EDUCATION WAS RECEIVED AT ROANOKE RAPIDS SCHOOL SYSTEM WHERE SHE ATTENDED JOHN ARMSTRONG CHALONER HIGH SCHOOL. SHE IS THE THIRD OLDEST CHILD FROM A FAMILY OF 12 CHILDREN. THERE ARE TWO SURVIVING SIBLINGS CASSIE AND EDITH. IN RESEARCHING OUR FAMILY HISTORY, WE DISCOVERED MINERVA WAS NAMED FOR HER GRANDMOTHER ON HER MOTHER’S SIDE, MRS. MINERVA JONES. SHE ATTENDED CARTER’S CHAPEL BAPTIST CHURCH AND LATER JOINED LONDON BAPTIST CHURCH IN NORTH CAROLINA. SHE SPENT HER EARLY YOUTH AND TEENS IN NORTH CAROLINA. DURING HER YOUTH MINERVA PARTICIPATED IN COOKING AND HOUSEHOLD CHORES. IN 1941, SHE GAVE BIRTH TO A DAUGHTER SHIRLEY. IN 1942, SHE MOVED TO PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA. ON SEPTEMBER 13, 1944 SHE MARRIED MR. WILLIAM CROSS. FOR MANY YEARS SHE WAS A LABORER PRESSING CLOTHING AND WORKING IN A LAUNDRY AND DRY CLEANING PLANT IN PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA. IN 1976, SHE BEGAN A SECOND CAREER AS A MAINTENANCE CLEANING PERSON AT THE NORFOLK NAVAL SHIPYARD. ON FEBRUARY 21, 1986 AFTER 10 YEARS OF SERVICE SHE RETIRED FROM THE NORFOLK NAVAL SHIPYARD. AT AGE 65, AFTER HER RETIREMENT SHE STARTED A SMALL CONSIGNMENT BUSINESS AND OBTAINED A DRIVER’S LICENSE. SHE ATTENDED NEW BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH OF CAVALIER MANOR. IN HER THIRD CAREER, SHE ENJOYED WORKING WITH PEOPLE, HER HOBBIES INCLUDED SHOPPING, COOKING, BAKING AND CROCHETING GARMENTS. MINERVA WAS THE MATRIARCH OF THE TERRY FAMILY WITH FIVE GENERATIONS IN OUR LINEAGE:SHE HAS ONE DAUGHTER, SHIRLEY OF BALTIMORE. THREE GRANDCHILDREN: JOANIE, KIMBERELY AND CLYDE. NINE GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN AND FIVE GREAT-GREAT GRANDCHILDREN. SHE HAS LIVED A LONG, HEALTHY AND VIBRANT LIFE ENJOYING HER FAMILY, FRIENDS AND CHURCH ACTIVITIES.

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Minerva T. Cross

February 25, 1921 - December 15, 2020