Faye Ruth Curry

Faye Ruth Curry, affectionately known as “Mama Faye,” peacefully passed away while sleeping after a recent diagnosis of bladder cancer and associated illnesses, on Sunday, September 7, 2025, while surrounded by her family, a fitting reflection of the unwavering love and dedication that she sowed into them and all who was blessed to know her. Mama Faye was born on November 14, 1932 in Louisville. Kentucky, the youngest of four children born to Christopher Smith and Catherine Dorsey Smith. She had two brothers, Christopher and Rudolph and two sisters, Christine and Joyce, all who preceded her in eternity therefore crowning her as the longest living sibling and the matriarch of her family. Mama Faye was raised in Louisville Ky but would often travel to visit her grandmother, Mattie Dorsey, in Chicago who resided on a farm. There she would rise early to perform chores around the farm and gain the foundation of hard work and servitude. She graduated from Central High School in the Jefferson County public school system and was lawfully wedded to William Henry Curry (deceased), and raised three children, William Curry Jr, who also preceded her in eternity, Constance Curry Nivins and Eunice Curry Potts. Mama Faye was a woman of faith, which was consistently shown through her actions. She raised a family with limited means but would sacrifice her last to help someone in need. So much so that her husband would have to ration food for the family daily because she would give the family’s last to a family without food. When she resided in assisted living facilities over the years, she would often check in on her neighbors and friends, offering to walk to the store for them to those who were sick and shut-in, or just sit and fellowship with them. On one occasion while walking to the store for a neighbor, she twisted her ankle and could barely walk so she began using a scooter to get to the store for others, which reflected her Godly heart, compassion for others, strong will and resilience. She also loved to fellowship with her community and would attend bible study, church and fellowship after service for hours to truly connect with people, who they truly were and how she could best serve them. Mama Faye would visit and travel from Louisville to Northern Va nearly every year since her youngest daughter, Eunice, relocated to the area, so that she could help any way she could with her grandchildren, Anthony, who preceded her in Glory, and her granddaughter Briana. She would prepare their lunch, walk them to the school bus stop and be the first to pick them up when school was over. During this time, memories of a lifetime were created, such as going on family cruises to the Bahamas, visiting her niece Carletta in San Diego, CA who took her to Mexico, countless trips to Virginia Beach and Ocean City, Williamsburg VA, amusement parks, community events, family birthday celebrations, live band venues, bingo, casinos, the Woodbridge Senior Center and going to church. In essence, she was and always will be the foundation and fabric of her family, that is now left behind to carry forward her legacy of love, servitude and strength. It is well within their soul because they have solace in knowing that “to be absent from the body, is to be present with the Lord, and that she's no longer in pain and sits at the feet of the “Most High”, our Heavenly Father. There is also solace in knowing that she is now spiritually rejoined with those closest to her who preceded her in eternity, such as her grandson Raymond Johnson and her grandson who she helped raise from birth, Anthony “Tone” Curry. Mama Faye’s health became of concern to her family and although she was hesitant and not wanting to be a burden, finally agreed to come live with her daughter Eunice, in Northern VA permanently and the family would reiterate often that she could never be a burden and that our assignment was to make her later better than her beginning and the family was blessed with many years of being able to sow back into the woman who gave them the foundation to be the loving, resilient servant of God that she was. She wanted for nothing and in the final years, months, days and moments, her family was right there by her side praying, encouraging and loving on her until her last breath, just as she did for her family’s first breath(s). Mama Faye leaves behind to cherish her legacy of love and servitude to Daughters Eunice Potts who was her caregiver and Constance Nivins; Grand Daughters Briana Potts and Shalonda O’Neal; Grandson Deshawn O’neal, Great Grandsons Jacob Herndon and Nate Velez; Great Great Granddaughters Zailynn and Ase’ Herndon; Son-In-Laws Frederick Shaw and Willie Nivins; Nieces Carletta Fox and Jackie Nichols,; bonus Grand Daughters Nyshema Louree and Rosa Ziten, and a host of additional nieces, nephews, family and friends. May she always rest in heavenly peace until we meet again.

Tributes

Faye Ruth Curry

November 14, 1932 - September 7, 2025