Phyllis Elouise Barksdale's Obituary
Phyllis Barksdale
February 12, 1945 – August 11, 2018
Phyllis Elouise Barksdale passed away quietly in the early morning on Saturday, August 11, 2018 at Prince William Medical Center, Manassas Virginia. She was 73 years old. Phyllis spent the last two years of her life as a resident of Birmingham Green, a continuum care center in Manassas, Virginia.
"Philly" as she was lovingly called, was born February 12, 1945 to the late Althea Merle and Thomas Lee Whetsell in Terra Alta, West Virginia. She was proud of her West Virginia mountain heritage. Her father farmed for a living which brought the family to Loudoun County in the 1950s. While living most of her life in Loudoun, Phyllis treasured time spent in Terra Alta and always looked forward to trips "back home" to visit with extended family. She was one of ten children, eight of which lived to adulthood. She was predeceased by brothers Mike Whetsell, Chuck Whetsell and Buck Whetsell; and by two sisters, Betty Parks and Ann Lawson. Phyllis is survived by two sisters, Helen Cable of Bluemont, Virginia and Janet Stemple, of Terra Alta, West Virginia.
On August 16, 1964 she married Clarence Barksdale of Gretna, Virginia. They were devoted parents to a daughter, Dorothy Eloise. The first 10 years of their marriage was spent in Rockville, Maryland eventually returning to Leesburg to make their home. Clarence and Phyllis shared forty-three years of marriage together before his death in 2007. Phyllis was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. She had a beautiful smile and a warm, caring nature. Philly never met a stranger and was always ready for conversation. Over the years she worked as a nursing assistant at Loudoun Hospital and in newspaper production at the Loudoun-Times Mirror. Phyllis and Clarence were long time members of Leesburg Community Baptist Church.
Phyllis leaves behind her daughter, Dorothy (Dottie) Coates and her husband, Randy of Lovettsville, Virginia and two granddaughters, Rose Coates of Virginia Beach and Hannah Coates of Richmond, Virginia.
The family will miss her kind, gentle spirit. We take great comfort in knowing Philly is at rest and in the arms of her loving Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
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