Virginia Beach - Ava Thomas Paxton, 70, was fitted with her heavenly wings and took her eternal flight on Thursday, July 10, 2014.

Ava was born April 5, 1944, in Norfolk, Virginia to the late Eva Hines Thomas and James Moody Thomas, Sr. and raised at an early age by a loving mother Beatrice Thomas. She was educated in the Norfolk Public School System and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1962. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Norfolk State University in 1966. She married Dwayne G. Paxton, Sr. later that year. She retired from Norfolk Public Schools in 2008.


She leaves to cherish her memory one daughter, Keisha Paxton; two sons, Dwayne Paxton, Jr. and Brian Paxton; one sister, Althea Thomas Wynn; her mother, Beatrice Thomas; three granddaughters, Crystal Morrison, Amani Morrison, and Jordan Smith; two nephews, DeVaughn Wynn and Trevor Wynn, companion, Fate Johnson, and a host of other family members, friends, and colleagues.

A viewing will be held at Pretlow and Sons Funeral Home, 500 Liberty St., Chesapeake on Thursday, July 17, 2014 from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 pm. Homegoing services will be held at First Baptist Church, 418 E. Bute St., Norfolk, VA 23510 on Friday, July 18, 2014 at 11:00 am. Condolences can be offered to the family at www.pretlowandsons.com.