Orphia Cozart Lyttle

Orphia Cozart Lyttle, 93, of Williamsburg, VA. passed away peacefully Tuesday, February 5th at home with her daughters by her side.

A native of Roxboro, NC, she grew up in Edenton before coming to the peninsula in 1943. She was a resident of Newport News before moving to Kingsmill in Williamsburg in 1987.

She was preceeded in death by her parents, Connie Speed and Susie Ann Cozart; four sisters; three brothers; her first husband, William Meredith Belch and her second husband, W. J. Lyttle.

Orphia was a devoted member of First Baptist Church in Newport News for 65 years, where she played the piano and taught Sunday school for 30 years. She was past President of Beta Sigma Phi in Newport News. Orphia volunteered endlessly at the Virginia Baptist Home in Newport News. She served two terms on the Virginia Baptist Foundation Board of Trustees in Richmond, VA. She was a member of the Newport News/Hampton Christian Women’s Club and served on the executive committee.

One of her passions was playing the piano. At the age of five, she was told she could not be taught because she had the gift of playing by ear and she played beautifully for 85 years.

She loved traveling with her daughter, Janis, and always had her passport ready for the next trip. She loved sports and the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill was her team. Orphia was a Tarheel born and bred with those beautiful Carolina blue eyes. She missed only two football games in 30 years and continued attending through her 90th year.

Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Beverly Belch McLean of Angier, NC., and Janis Elizabeth Belch of Williamsburg VA.; two grandchildren, Meredith McLean Hood (Errol), F. Ryan McLean of Carolina Beach, NC; four great-grand children, Caleb, Kellan, Cayden and Kylie Hood.

The family would like to thank AGAPE, Williamsburg Faith in Action, and Debbie Ames for their weekly visits in her last year. A graveside service was held on Friday, February 8th at Burchwood Cemetary in Roxboro, NC. Dr. Bill Tomlinson presided.

The family requests expressions of sympathy take the form of contributions to First Baptist Church, 12716 Warwick Blvd, Newport News, VA. or Williamsburg Faith in Action,354 McLaws Cir. Ste. 2, Williamsburg, VA.

Orphia’s faith in God, her children and her family were her life and she lived it to the fullest.