Mrs. Margaret Ann Dennis Downing, 77, daughter of the late Nelson West and the late Roslen (Will) Rayfield, took her heavenly flight on Aug. 25, 2022, at her residence in Bloxom.
“Cheese,” as she was known, was born May 27, 1945, in Parksley. She received her education in the public schools of Accomack County and graduated from Mary Nottingham Smith High School in 1964.
On Feb. 18, 1967, she married the love of her life, Louis McKinley Downing. Their union was blessed with four children. They moved to Philadelphia, where Margaret was a stay-at-home mom and loving wife. In 1982, they returned to Parksley. 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 Lifecare.
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 is survived by her four children, Denise D. Downing, Dexter Dennis, Sonya Downing-Justice, and Sherrye Downing-Abbott; sister, Varletta Dennis; brother, Nelson Ridley; seven grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; five sisters-in-law; 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.
Arrangements are by the Cooper & Humbles Funeral Co., Accomac.
