On Thursday, June 14, 2018, God called his daughter home.  Joann Nottingham Adkins, 69, entered eternal rest at the Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital in Onley, Virginia.  She was the sixth child of eleven born to the late Carl and Ethel Nottingham on March 27, 1949 in Cheriton, Virginia.

Joann was educated in the public schools of Northampton County.  She worked in various industries, such as G.L. Webster's Canning Factory (Kane & Miller Factory), Holly Farms (now Tyson Food), Northampton Seafood, Bayview Citizens for Social Justice and for Beverly Leatherbury.

Early in Joann's life, she had a desire to grow spiritually, and accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior and joined the Coles Chapel in Bayview, Virginia.  Later in life she rededicated her life to Christ and joined the Saint Stephen's A.M.E. Church in Cape Charles, VA.  As a member of Saint Stephen's she served faithfully in several ministries until her health failed.  Those areas of ministries included president of the usher board, trustee ministry, and pastor's aide.

She married Robert Adkins, Jr. On October 28, 1970 and to this union four children were reared.  Joann enjoyed life, her children, grandchildren and family.  She was very active in social functions in the community.  She was a founding member of the Ebony Club of Bayview where she held several offices including president.  She loved staying in contact with family and learning about the family history.  Any given day you could find a puzzle book in her hand or hands working in her flower garden.

Joann was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Ethel Nottingham; siblings; Elsie Fowkles, Carl Nottingham, Jr, Giles Nottingham and Vernon E. Nottingham and her granddaughter, Nia Haqq.  She leaves cherished, loving and lasting memories with her husband of 47 years, Robert  Adkins, Jr; mother-in-law, Helen Douglas Bell; three daughters; Valerie I. Nottingham, Fairview, VA, Rochelle Custis, Cape Charles, VA and Cynthia J. Lee (Rev. Jerome Lee, Jr) Greensboro, NC; one son, William C. Adkins; stepchildren; Robert Weeks (Rita), David Beach (Emma), Clarence Weeks; Hassana Haqq, Majeeda Haqq, Thaky Haqq (Angela) and Rafeal Wilkins; siblings; Janie Harvey, Betty Johnson, Dorothy Triplett (Edward, Sr.) Roy D. Nottingham, Randy Nottingham (Jane), and Laverne Manley; in-laws; Dr. Cary Adkins (Lois), Alma Adkins, James Douglas (Sue), Sandra Conquest, and Stephanie Adkins; 21 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, two aunts, two uncles, a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.