Eliza Isabelle Berkley

Eliza Isabelle Berkley was called home to eternal rest on Saturday, October 28, 2023.  She was born on June 1, 1934, to the late Eliza and Willie Earl Randall Sr., in Chickahominy area of Toano, Virginia.

In her youth, she accepted Christ as her personal Savior and joined Chickahominy Baptist Church.  She later joined hands in fellowship with St. John Baptist Church, Toano, Virginia.  She served as secretary of the Missionary ministry for over forty years, sang in the Senior Choir, and served in Hospitality. She worked in the food service department at Eastern State Hospital and later retired from the Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools after twenty-eight years of dedicated service.

“Isabelle”, as she was affectionally called, was joined in Holy Matrimony to the late Zack Berkley.  This union was blessed with five beautiful children. She taught them how to shoot marbles, jump rope, hopscotch, and various games when they were growing up.  She loved fishing with her husband and going to the beach with the family for picnics.  She read to her children from her “Big Red Bible” and made sure they attended Sunday School and worship services. Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and Birthday dinners as well as many other celebrations have left her family with lots of fond memories. Isabelle loved to travel and has been to New Orleans, New York City, Hilton Head, SC, Florida, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Canada, Massachusetts, and a few trips to Aruba. She also enjoyed three cruises to Bermuda and the Bahamas.  Isabelle loved gospel music, especially Fred Hammond which she listened to every single day!  She also loved her Dallas Cowboys! Most of all she was a strong woman of FAITH and she would always say “Trust God, He knows what He’s doing!”

Preceding her in glory are her daughter, Selena Watkins; grandson, Terrence Pressey; and siblings, William Randall, Willie Earl Randall Jr., Emanuel Randall, and Pearl Lee Meekins. 

She leaves to cherish her memories her sons, Larry Berkley (Sharon) of Gloucester, VA and Zack Nathan Berkley (Sandra) of Toano, VA; daughters, Valerie Overton (Allen) of Toano, VA and Karen Doreen Pressey (Marvin) of Williamsburg, VA; nine grandchildren; three bonus grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; four bonus great-grandchildren; sisters, Katherine Cook of Hampton, VA, Louise Dancy, and Dora Kinchen (Rudolph) of Delaware, and Muneerah Abdul-Musawir (Taswir) of Hampton, VA; sister-in-law: Mickey Gresham (John) of King & Queen; and special friend, Ida M. Morris of Elizabeth City NC.

A service to celebrate Isabelle’s life will be held at 12:00 p.m. Saturday, November 4, 2023, at Bethel Restoration Center. Interment to follow in Williamsburg Memorial Park. Mrs. Berkley may be viewed on Friday from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the funeral home.

Professional services entrusted to the staff of Whiting’s Funeral Home, 7005 Pocahontas Trail, Williamsburg, Virginia 23185. 757-229-3011 whitingsfuneralhome.com

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