Obituary for George Leroy Mabine Sr.
George “Leroy” Mabine, Sr., 79, quietly departed this life on June 9, 2021, in Sentara Leigh Memorial Hospital. He was born June 14, 1941, in North Carolina to Theodore and Caroline Rankins Mabine. He was educated in the North Carolina Public School System.
Leroy was employed by Bennett’s Box Factory. At an early age he married Jean C. Wilson. They later moved to Norfolk and raised a family of seven. He then was employed by The Ajax Tile Company as a tile helper for many years until his retirement.
Leroy was known as “Pa-Pa” and “Pop” to some. He looked forward to regular card games with his two oldest sons as well as his life-time good friend and brother-in-law, Richard Wilson; until his health began to fail him. Everyone who knew “Leroy” knew he lived his life his own way, “on his own terms.” A true force to be reckoned with. He is quoted as saying about the afterlife, “both of them (God and the Devil) are discussing him. One doesn’t want me and the other isn’t ready for me.” That was Leroy.
Leroy said he had lived a long life and there was nothing else to do. “This world owes me nothing,” he said. That was Leroy. To quote a line from a spiritual song… “May the life I lived speak for me.” This will be true for Leroy and everyone.
Leroy is preceded in death by his parents, Theodore and Caroline Mabine; wife, Jean C. Mabine; two sons, Thomas Mabine, Sr. and Calvin Mabine; five brothers, Theodore, Rueben, Joseph Sr., Thomas Sr., and James Mabine; two sisters, Reva Combo and Ruth Early; a daughter, Yvette.
Leroy leaves to remember him daughters, Tammy Doster (Allwood) and Deborah Wilson; sons, Vernon Wilson (Deborah), George L. Mabine, Jr. (Debbie), and Curtis Mabine; twenty-four grandchildren; thirty great-grandchildren; two sisters, Zenora Watford and Odessa Askew of Ahoskie, NC; one brother, David Mabine; a daughter, Serena; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Leroy was employed by Bennett’s Box Factory. At an early age he married Jean C. Wilson. They later moved to Norfolk and raised a family of seven. He then was employed by The Ajax Tile Company as a tile helper for many years until his retirement.
Leroy was known as “Pa-Pa” and “Pop” to some. He looked forward to regular card games with his two oldest sons as well as his life-time good friend and brother-in-law, Richard Wilson; until his health began to fail him. Everyone who knew “Leroy” knew he lived his life his own way, “on his own terms.” A true force to be reckoned with. He is quoted as saying about the afterlife, “both of them (God and the Devil) are discussing him. One doesn’t want me and the other isn’t ready for me.” That was Leroy.
Leroy said he had lived a long life and there was nothing else to do. “This world owes me nothing,” he said. That was Leroy. To quote a line from a spiritual song… “May the life I lived speak for me.” This will be true for Leroy and everyone.
Leroy is preceded in death by his parents, Theodore and Caroline Mabine; wife, Jean C. Mabine; two sons, Thomas Mabine, Sr. and Calvin Mabine; five brothers, Theodore, Rueben, Joseph Sr., Thomas Sr., and James Mabine; two sisters, Reva Combo and Ruth Early; a daughter, Yvette.
Leroy leaves to remember him daughters, Tammy Doster (Allwood) and Deborah Wilson; sons, Vernon Wilson (Deborah), George L. Mabine, Jr. (Debbie), and Curtis Mabine; twenty-four grandchildren; thirty great-grandchildren; two sisters, Zenora Watford and Odessa Askew of Ahoskie, NC; one brother, David Mabine; a daughter, Serena; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.