“For we know that if our earthly house of the tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” II Corinthians 5:1.
On Saturday, October 28, 2017, Merdis F. Marshall Childress transitioned from her earthly home into our Father’s Heavenly peace.”
Merdis Fean Marshall Childress, affectionately known to her family and friends as “Mert”, was the middle daughter, and one of eight children born to the late James, Sr. and Sallie Marshall, was born in Dunn, N.C., on April 1, 1932. Merdis was joined in holy matrimony to the late Peter James Benton in 1953, and from their union was born three daughters. After many years of raising the three girls with the help of her parents and family, Merdis was blessed to meet and marry the late Albert Lee Childress, Jr., in 1967, and from their union their youngest daughter was born. Merdis attended Norfolk Public Schools until she entered eleventh grade, at which she moved to Detroit, MI, where she graduated high school. Merdis returned to Norfolk, and after several years of battling with a medical condition, she was finally released by her doctors to pursue a career in nursing. Merdis attended classes at Norfolk General Hospital, and became a Certified Nursing Assistant. She worked for several years at Norfolk General Hospital, and with several private nursing agencies throughout the Tidewater area. She also worked for Norfolk Public Schools for several years as a School Nurse. In 2001, Merdis retired and dedicated her time to serving others through the church’s Missionary Society, and she loved attending the Womens’ Workout Center, where she enjoyed participating in her favorite exercises, which were water aerobics activities. Merdis loved serving the Lord and working in her church home. She joined Garden of Prayer Worship Center in 2005, and served on the missionary Board, in the Women’s Auxiliary, and she sang in the church’s choir. She loved visiting nursing homes ministering to residents, and sharing tokens of love to make them smile. Merdis was proceeded in death by her parents, James, Sr. and Sallie Marshall; brothers: James, Jr., Waymon, Sr., Thomas, Sr., Evander, and Bobby Jean, and her eldest sister, Rose Lee Marshall Peake. Merdis leaves to cherish her memories, one sister, Geraldine Marshall Hall (Lee Roy), of Norfolk, VA., four daughters: Mitzi (Chessie) Benton-Diaz, of Valley Stream, NY; Patricia (Trisha) Benton Jonson, Candiase (Candi) Benton Driver, and Sonja Childress Stephenson; one son-in-law, Tony Stephenson, all of Norfolk, VA.; three grandchildren: Tineaka (Nikki) Johnson, Anwar Rashaud Johnson, and Amir’ Driver; two greatgrandchildren: Kimora Gill and Brenton Driver, and a host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

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