Rachel Rivers Obituary

Rachel J. Rivers NORFOLK - Rachel Johnson "Ma Rachie" Rivers, 90, of the 1500 block of Conoga St., passed away May 22, 2009, at Consulate Health Care. She was born Feb. 15, 1919, to the late Rachel and Joshua Johnson in Washington, D.C. She was predeceased by her husband, Currie Rivers. Rachel was educated in the Chesapeake public schools. She was employed as a dry cleaning clerk for Empire Cleaners for five years. Rachel was a member of Metropolitan AME Zion Church where she served in the Women's Fellowship and was voted queen of the tribe of Zebulon. She was a former member of First Baptist Church, Campostella, where she served as church clerk and an usher. She is survived by seven daughters, Dolores Pretlow, Barbara Rivers, Ruby Richmond, Ruth Jones, Katherine Wallace, Christine Britton and Denise Rivers; two sons, Henry Rivers and Robert Rivers; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; a special daughter, Yvonne Saunders; and a host of other relatives and friends. A funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in the chapel of Metropolitan Funeral Service, 120 W. Berkley Ave. Interment will be in Rosewood Memorial Park, Virginia Beach. Family and friends will assemble at 1527 Conoga St. one hour prior to the service for the procession to the chapel. The family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home. Condolences may be offered at www.metropolitanfuneralservice.com.