Obituary

Bert Boatwright was born to George Ellis and Lula Carter Boatwright on May 24th, 1942, in Cumberland County, Virginia. He attended the public schools in Cumberland, Virginia.

He joined and attended Mt. Olive Baptist Church until his health declined. At the age of nineteen Bert moved to Paterson, New Jersey. While in New Jersey, he was employed for several years by Owens Illinois Glass Factory, as well as SB Bakery, for a few years before returning to Cumberland, VA in the mid-eighties. Bert worked at a couple of jobs in Richmond, VA where he lived before his health started to decline in October of 2014.

Bert was a loving and caring brother, father, uncle, grandfather, nephew, and cousin. Family always came first for Bert. He was always there to help and host, during the holidays, birthdays, and family gatherings at Aunt Nita's and Aunt Mary Eliza's house. Bert loved it when the family came together at these events. Bert was generous and always willing to lend a helping hand to family and friends. Bert enjoyed traveling and while doing so he visited his family and friends. He loved going to clubs with his cousins when he came home, yard parties, and school reunions where he loved to dress to impress and mingle with his old school friends. Bert talked about ballroom dancing to a few and to others about fashion. If you knew Bert, then you knew he had dignity.

Bert always gave praise to Mrs. Davenport who told him to always read, even if it is just a newspaper, she told him, "Reading will take you wherever you want to go." Bert read newspapers, GQ, and Essence magazines daily into his final days. Everyone that Bert encountered, he encouraged them to read everything and anything.

Bert departed on his heavenly journey on November 8, 2025. He was preceded in death by his parents Ellis and Lula, granddaughter Taylor Jones, brothers; James, Ellis, George "Lewis" Boatwright, nephews Ellis "Junnie" and Lewis "Neal," grandparents, and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Bert leaves to cherish his memories; his son Carl Jones (Justine), granddaughter Kayla Jackson, great granddaughter, Jocelyn Sharpe, Aunt Edmonia Carter, a sister-in-law Betty Boatwright and a devoted sister-in-law Josephine Boatwright, a devoted cousin Thomas (Lynda) Davenport and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, and many friends.

The Last Request

Dear Family and Friends,

Please don't say that I gave up. Just say that I was tired, I gave in.

Don't talk about what I did and didn't do, just know I did my best,

I tried to do what's right, By giving the most I could, not less.

Don't give me wings or halos, That's for God to do.

I want no more than I deserve, No extra, just my due.

Please don't give me flowers or talk in hushed tones.

Don't talk about my illness, it's over, it's done, and I am out of pain.

Don't be concerned now, God saw the road was getting tough and hills were hard to climb,

He closed my weary eyes, I am well with God, I'm home.

Remember all the good times, don't focus on the bad.

For life is full of many things, some happy and some sad….

And if you must do something, I have but one last request.

Please forgive me for any wrong I've done, And with any love that is left,

Thank God for my soul's resting, Thank God for I've been blessed,

Thank God for all who loved me, But, praise God, who loves me best

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The family of the late Bert Boatwright wants to thank all, acknowledge and express gratitude to all family, friends, and neighbors for their acts of sympathy and expressions of kindness shown during our time of bereavement. Thank you and God bless you all!

Special thanks to the Heritage Hall and Oakhurst Nursing Home Staff, CNA's, UVA and Martha Jefferson Hospital Doctors, Nurses, PCA's and The Piedmont Hospice

Staff Special thanks to helping friends; Nancy Owens whom Bert met at Heritage Hall, and she continued to visit him at Oakhurst Nursing Home and Ellen (resident of Oakhurst) who helped put away his groceries and did other little errands for Bert, and Pasty Logan who took the time to stop by to check on Bert throughout her day.