Annie Alma Childs Fields

Annie Alma Childs Fields, affectionately known to friends and family as “Alma”, transitioned to her heavenly home on May 9, 2015 at Saint Mary’s Hospital in Richmond, Virginia at the blessed age of ninety. Alma was born October 5, 1924 to Robert and Julia Childs. She was a native of King William County, Virginia where she graduated from the King William County Public School System. As a young girl, she was bright, intelligent, very responsible, and had a reputation for being the “teacher’s pet”. Alma married Wortham Henry Fields, Jr. (Sonny), a young entrepreneur, on December 17, 1944 at Mangohick Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday school and played piano for the Church. Shortly after their union, Alma and Sonny moved to Hot Springs, Virginia where they worked for a few years before returning to King William County, Virginia and purchasing their first home. While living in that home, they welcomed Zenobia, the eldest of their three beautiful daughters, into their family. A few years later, Alma relocated to Richmond, Virginia where she purchased her second home that she established as a boarding house. Later, she was joined in Richmond by her husband and they transformed the boarding house into the family home. During their thirty-three years of marriage, the couple celebrated the birth of Stephanie and Almetia. After many years as a homemaker, Alma separated from her husband and re-entered the workforce. She worked as a private duty caretaker before obtaining full time employment at The Hermitage Virginia United Methodist Homes (The Hermitage). She took great pride in her work where she not only cared for the physical needs of the residents, but also attended to their spiritual needs. Alma was often found in a resident’s room praying or in the Chapel, praying and interceding for loved ones and friends. She served faithfully at The Hermitage until her retirement at the age 75. Her pride and joy were her three granddaughters, but Alma believed her greatest accomplishments in life were her three beautiful daughters. She instilled in them strength, independence, hard work, compassion and mercy for others, prayer, a love for all people and most of all, a love for God. Alma’s life is a testimony to her personal fortitude and the hand of God upon her life. A breast and lung cancer survivor, she always attributed her miraculous recovery to the healing power and grace of God. In all things and in all ways, Alma believed all the glory belongs to God. Alma was preceded in death by her loving parents, Robert and Julia Childs, and her five siblings, Mable Childs, Cedessa Childs, Harvey Childs, Ruth Moore, and Odessa Warren. She is survived by her three loving daughters, Zenobia F. Patterson, Stephanie F. Smoot, and Almetia F. Hardman; three devoted granddaughters, Jumoke Patterson, Jennifer Smoot, and Addison Hardman; two stepsisters, Bernice Hightower and Pearl Smith; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, other family and friends.

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Annie Alma Childs Fields

October 5, 1924 - May 9, 2015