Christine Beulah Henderson Irving

Christine Beulah Henderson Irving was born on August 29, 1937, the younger of two children, to the late Howard and Daisy Briggs Henderson, in Washington, DC.   Christine died on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, after a long illness, with her family at her side.

Christine was baptized and became a member of White Rock Baptist Church in Arrington, Va.   She later joined New Mount Baptist Church in Arrington, Va, after she married.  She was a faithful and active member of New Mount until her illness, having served at various times on several Church Ministries, including the Senior Choir, the Usher Board, the Helping Hands Ministry, Chairperson of the Food Committee, and Treasurer of the Home Mission.      

Christine was educated briefly in Washington, DC, where her parents lived for a short period of time and graduated from the Nelson County (Virginia) Training School in 1956.  In the segregated South, high schools for African Americans were called training schools to satisfy segregationists and were to focus upon vocational training.  During her senior year in high school, Christine served on the Student Council.  Her yearbook, The 1956 Nelsonian, noted a quotation she admired, “But joy is wisdom, Time an endless song,” from Joy of Life Emancipated in W. B. Yeats’ The Land of Heart’s Desire.  Throughout her life, Christine was an avid and voracious reader; she loved biographies and periodicals.  She had a thirst for knowledge.

Christine married her sweetheart, Alfred Sherwood Irving, Sr., on April 11, 1958.   Christine and Sherwood, as she called her husband, were loving and devoted spouses.  They shared the same values and were guided by the same principles.   They worshipped together and followed the Golden Rule.  

They had three children, Alfred, Shelley and Sonya, whom they loved and nurtured, teaching them the difference between right and wrong and encouraging them to become well educated.  Christine’s motto was:  “One’s children should advance in life beyond the station of their parents.”  In that regard, she laid a firm foundation and taught her children basic reading and writing skills before they started school and after they started school, she required homework to be completed before any television watching.  She wanted them to appreciate the benefits of a good education and was pleased when the Nelson County School system became an integrated one, thereby offering expanded educational opportunities for them.  

While Christine had only one sibling, she was blessed with a large family of aunts, uncles, and cousins whose presence further enriched her life.  She believed in family.    

In addition to her parents, Christine was preceded in death by her sister, Cecelia Henderson Martin; brother-in-law, Thomas Martin;  a niece, Tamika Robinson; sisters-in-law, Mary Henderson, Dorothy Hatcher and Ruth Burse; and a nephew, Brennan Irving.

She is survived by her loving and devoted husband of almost 66 years.  In addition, she leaves to cherish her life, three children: Alfred S. Irving, Jr. (Bob Benedetti), Shelley Felecia Irving Biglow (William) and Sonya Renee Irving Ross (Terry); two grandchildren, Reneka Ross Davis (Michael) and Rahmon Lee Ross (Nick Hatcher); three step-grandchildren, William Biglow Jr., Brandon Biglow (Megan), and Jasmine Harris; step-great grandchildren, Landon Monroe, Braydon and Alaina Biglow;  sisters-in-law, Laura Pinson, Elvelyne Cobb, Irish Farmer (Larry), Arlene Mitchell (Raymond), and Alice Irving; brothers-in-law William Irving (Carolyn), James Irving, Dan Irving (Mary), Tom Burse, and Joseph Hatcher; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.  

A service will be held at Calvary Baptist Church, Lovingston, VA, on Saturday, March 9, 2024, at 1:00 pm., with Interment at New Mount Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Arrington, VA, followed by a repast and fellowship at New Mount Baptist Church.  

Contributions may be made to your favorite charity in Christine’s name.