Graveside services for Mrs. Virginia Beck Costilow were held 11 a.m. Monday, April 27, 2020 at Liberty Baptist Church in Newton. Her son, Larry Costilow, and son-in-law, Mack Alford, officiated with her grandchildren and great grandchildren providing music and song for their grandmother.
Mrs. Virginia was born in the Jefferson community in Carroll County Sept. 14, 1925. At an early age she married J.B. Costilow from Grenada. They began a ministry team with J.B. being the pastor and she being the supportive pastor’s wife for the next 65 years. This ministry team led them to serve churches in Kentucky, Indiana and finally to Newton County and the Clarke College campus.
Mrs. Virginia was very active in WMU work in all the churches where they served. She taught primary Sunday school classes at First Baptist Church in Newton for many years. She served with the WMU mission group at Liberty Baptist Church for almost 40 years until her health restricted her ability to attend but she still remained loyal to WMU mission effort through her prayer life.
Mrs. Virginia was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Reverend J.B. Costilow; parents, David Eugene Beck and Ann Charlie Hamrick Beck; grandson, Joseph Michael Alford; two brothers, Charlie Beck and Jack Beck; and four sisters, Stella Beck Corley, Jane Beck Jones, Emma Beck Avant and Norma Beck Crutchfield.
She is survived by one son, Larry Costilow and his wife, Becky, of Meridian; two daughters, Gail Birdsong of Clinton and Sherry Alford and her husband, Mack, of Philadelphia; three grandchildren, Dawn Crosby and her husband, Thad, of Clinton, Jason Alford and his wife, Rhonda, of Newton and Jennifer Walker and her husband, Glenn, of Macon, Ga.; eight great-grandchildren, Emily Walker, Joseph Walker, Grace Ann Walker, Brennan Crosby, Lindsey Crosby, John Michael Crosby, Brandy Lee and Adren Cooksey.
Mrs. Virginia will be remembered by her friends and family as a great cook who tried many of the recipes that she found in her collection of cookbooks acquired from the many churches where her husband either pastored or held revivals. Her grandchildren will remember her as the supportive grandmother who was there for their school programs, band concerts, church activities and the taxi driver to dental appointments.
Serving as pallbearers were her children and grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to the WMU Foundation; 100 Missionary Ridge, Birmingham, AL 35242.
A special thank you is given to Sta-Home Health and Sta-Home Hospice Services of Philadelphia for their excellent and loving care and Bee Hive of Philadelphia and especially Lynn Ogletree, caregiver.
Newton County Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements (601) 635-3200.
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