Rivers, Virginia C.

Virginia Carrel Rivers, 87, of Petersburg, widow of Irvin Heath Rivers, passed away Monday, March 23, 2009. Born in Petersburg, she was the daughter of the late William B. and Ida Belle Hutchens Carrel. She was a long time member of Elm Street Baptist Church where she enjoyed singing in the choir and teaching Sunday school. The church and her church family were very dear to her. Mrs. Rivers was preceded in death by her son-in-law, John Cowden and her brothers, Luther, Raymond and Clarence Carrel. She is survived by her daughters, Joanne Cowden of McKenney and Judy Talmage and husband, John of Dinwiddie; grandchildren, Sherrie Wells, Cindy Sessums, Robbie Talmage and Michelle Cowden; great-grandchildren, Shelbie, Christa, D. J., Colton and Isabella; nieces, Betty Leath and Betsy Wood; and her many friends at Elm Street Baptist and Colonial Heights Health Care Center. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 PM Wednesday, March 25, at the Petersburg Chapel of J. T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home & Cremation Service. A graveside funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM Thursday at Blandford Cemetery with Rev. Harvey Skinner, Pastor of Elm Street Baptist Church, officiating. Condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com.