Genelda Jean Finch

Yorktown, VA. – Genelda Jean Finch, 98, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 25, 2023. Jean was a native of Middlesex, North Carolina and graduated from Middlesex High School. She was very proud that she had perfect attendance throughout her years of schooling!
Jean was a Peninsula resident since 1946 when she and her husband, Tommy, left farming in North Carolina for his employment at Newport News Shipbuilding. They later moved to York County in 1959 and joined Yorkminster Presbyterian Church the following year. She was active with the Home Demonstration Club, sewing, gardening, various arts and crafts and flower arranging. She later became a professional florist in the early 1970’s, and in 1977 formed the Yorktown Flower Shoppe with Mildred Ballew, Joyce Ballew, and Betty Bowler. Jean managed the business for over 20 years and both she and Mildred retired together in 1998. In retirement she enjoyed golf outings with Tommy, gardening and spending time with family. After Tommy’s passing in 2004, she and her siblings enjoyed several motorcoach vacations together and golfing whenever they could. She loved sports, especially women’s basketball, and for many years would attend the women’s ACC championship tournaments with her sister Marie, son and daughter-in-law, Mike and Sherrie, and a host of others. She always had a vegetable garden, and if there was an open little plot of land around the house, she’d find something to grow on it! Both she and Tommy were active at Yorkminster, and she chaired the flower committee for many years. Whenever there was an open Sunday, she’d be sure to make a floral arrangement so there were always beautiful flowers for Sunday services.
Jean was preceded in death by her husband Thomas W. Finch and is survived her children Linda Savedge (Lewis) of New Kent, Dewey Mike Finch (Sherrie) of Yorktown and Doug Finch (Mary) of Yorktown; her sister Marie Lewis of Wilson, NC; 6 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.
The family would like to share their gratitude to the staff at Hamilton Assisted Living and York Convalescent Center for the care given and compassion shown to their mother during the past year. They would also like to thank her special caregivers Amy Wolverton and Hermina Jones.
Jean will be laid to rest next to Tommy on their 77th wedding anniversary on Thursday November 30, 2023 at 11:00 AM at Peninsula Memorial Park. Following the burial, a memorial service will be held at Yorkminster Presbyterian Church at 1:00 PM followed by a reception. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Yorkminster Presbyterian Church. Arrangements by Amory Funeral Home, Grafton, VA.