Virginia Cobia

Mother Virginia “Eddie” Cobia, 88, waited patiently on the Lord three long years battling with the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. On Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2007, God sent His angel of mercy to the Hospice and Palliative Care Center in Winston-Salem, N.C., where she was a patient for one day, to bring her home.

Mrs. Cobia was born April 25, 1919, in Summerton, one of 12 children born to the late Mr. Thomas and Mrs. Lou Black. She later married Mr. Ossie Cobia and was a lifelong member of Gum Spring Missionary Baptist Church, where she sang in the choir and served as a church mother. Mrs. Cobia was known as the “neighborhood grandmother,” who opened her home to children and would teach Bible study. Mrs. Cobia was a loving mother and friend to all who enjoyed talking about the goodness of Jesus and the power of prayer.

Her husband, parents, three children, 10 siblings, grandmother and great-grandmother preceded her in death.

She was the mother of eight children. Survivors include Milligan (Rose) Cobia and Robert (Gloria) Cobia, all of Baltimore, Md., R.E. (Ruby) Cobia of Belle Glade, Fla., the Rev. Wendell (Sylvia) Cobia of Summerton and Barbara Brailsford Green (owner of Messiah Too!! Catering) of High Point, N.C.; 21 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; 10 great-great-grandchildren; one surviving sister, who was also her best friend, Katie Martin of Manning; three godchildren, Allen and Monica Terry of High Point, N.C., the Rev. Thomas Rogers of Jamestown, N.C., and Susie Felder of Summerton; and a host of in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

A homegoing celebration was held on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2007, in Silver at Gun Spring Missionary Baptist Church.

Scriven’s Funeral Home of Sumter was in charge of local arrangements.