Elsie P. Brinkley

The Lord in His infinite wisdom decided to call His precious angel, Mother Elsie P. Wiggins – Brinkley home on Thursday, July 28, 2016. She was born in Halifax, North Carolina on the 17th of October to the late Mother Mary Wiggins. At an early age, she moved to Norfolk, Virginia, where she started her amazing life. Elsie was educated through the Norfolk Public School System, graduating from St. Joseph Catholic High School. She continued her academic achievement at Norfolk State College (Norfolk State University) majoring in Early Childhood. During her time at NSU, she counted it an honor presenting the institution as homecoming queen.

During her time at St. Joseph, she met and fell in love with a young man named, James D. Brinkley. In November 28, 1958, they married and became a union. From this union produced two children; Angela Fay and James, Jr. She started a great career with the government and would later retire from the Naval Base.

She was introduced to the Lord at an early age and as a child attended Mount Gilead Baptist Church, Norfolk, VA. Being reared by her aunt, the late Luvenia Johnson, aunt Lue would say, “Elsie! If you don’t get up and go to church on Sunday, you won’t go anywhere on Monday!” Even as a child, she was taught to serve and she served faithfully in the Youth Choir, sixty years later she went back and participated in the reunion choir. In the early 60’s, she accepted Jesus as her personal Savior and served faithfully at St. Mary Church of Deliverance under the leadership of the late Mother Juanita Jones. She often referred to St. Mary as the church that the Lord called her to usher, and she would later train others how to be an effective usher.

1 Corinthians 7:14 states, “For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.” From her living a righteous life, her husband would later receive Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. They both were devoted to the Lord, the pastor and the church. In 1973, Elsie and her husband were called and sent to Pinetops, North Carolina, under the governance of the late Bishop Emerson Brockington and the Churches of Deliverance, where they birth out Holy Mission. She would work every day at the Naval Supply Center and take the journey every weekend to North Carolina where she toiled extremely hard with her husband. Souls were saved, set free and delivered. In 1975, the Lord directed their footsteps and led them to an unfamiliar territory in Chesapeake, VA. They united and served under the late Bishop Henry A. Bryant and the Pentecostal Churches of God. “Sis. Brinkley” and her husband did what they were taught to do, serve. In 1976, they were sent to unfamiliar territory, by Bishop Bryant and the Pentecostal Churches of God, called “Wilmund Place.” They labored extremely hard turning an abandoned two bedroom house, with no bathrooms, no heating/AC unit, a septic tank, an official construction dumping site, into a beautiful sanctuary. “Sis. Brinkley” served in the capacity of devoted first lady, administrator, prayer warrior, senior choir, vacation planner, and intercessor. Regardless to rain or shine, she would faithfully be in her place each Wednesday at noon, at the Noon – Day Prayer. She would often quote Ecclesiastes 9:10, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might;” She would later retire from the Naval Base and go into full time ministry with her husband. Because she was tremendously devoted to God, Holy Temple and believed in the principles of seed time – harvest time, she would withdraw her entire social security benefits and seeded it into the church.

Although she was ordained by the Pentecostal Churches of God as an Ordained Elder, Mother Brinkley or affectionately referred to as “First Lady” or “Sister Brinkley” was always known for her quiet, humble and gentle spirit. She was a lover of people and did whatever she could to support. She was commonly known as a prayer warrior, operating in the gift of healing. When the altar was opened, Bishop Brinkley would often humorously say, “Elsie! Your prayer – line was longer than mine.” She was also known as spiritual Christian counselor (someone you could always talk with), and definitely known as a giver. Two of her favorite statements were, “I haven’t lost anything by giving.” and “If you live right, heaven belongs to you.” She loved her husband and was united in holy matrimony with him for approximately sixty years.

She leaves to cherish her loving memories two children; Angela Fay Brinkley and James D. Brinkley Jr. (Trena); four grandchildren: Artisha Sheppard (Damian), Christian N. Leon (Luis), Arthur Moyler (Brandi) and James D. Brinkley, III (Tanita); four great-grandchildren: Aaliyah, Jordan, William and Aubrie; three brothers-in-love: Jimmie Brinkley (Lillian), Raymond Brinkley and Fulton Brinkley (Ruth). She leaves to cherish her memories two special people who were raised in the same house with her; Joseph “Bobby” Wilson and Ellen Johnson, along with a host of cousins, nieces, spiritual children/grandchildren and friends.

Mrs. Brinkley will lie in state Wednesday, August 3 from 4 pm to 7 pm at Fitchett Funeral Home, Liberty Street.

Homegoing Service will be Thursday, August 4 at 11 am at St. Mark Deliverance Center - 3801 Turnpike Road, Portsmouth, Virginia 23701.

Services of Comfort Provided By The Original Fitchett Funeral Home, Liberty Street.

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