Winston "Miggie" Merritt

Winston Leroy Merritt, known as “Miggie” made his transition to be with our Heavenly Father on Thursday, June 29, 2023. Winston was born on November 27, 1935, the youngest in the family of five girls and four boys, to the late Arthur Lee Merritt II and Grace Coleman Merritt in Peterburg, Virginia. He was proceeded in death by his sibling sisters: Ercelle, Evelyn, Maxine, Jean Ann, Grace Mae, and brothers: Arthur Lee III, and Willam Bernard. While growing up during segregated times, most of Winston’s younger childhood was spent on the family’s farm where he worked assisting with the upkeep of the farm animals; maintained the garden grounds; sold strawberries to the local grocery store; cut grass for neighbors; he became the family store cashier and helped with canning and storing the food after each seasonal harvest. When he wasn’t busy with family business, he played sports with friends, enjoyed riding bikes, and attended the family church at Shiloh Baptist Church in Petersburg, Virgina. At Shiloh, Winston accepted Christ at an early age and served as a junior usher. Winston’s preliminary education started at Matocha Elementary School in Ettrick, Virginia. He attended Carver High School in Chesterfield County, Virginia, and graduated in the class of 1955. Winston aspired to be an Architect; he had a God-given talent for drawing. Winston designed graphics by hand and published all the graphics and themes for his high school class yearbook. Winston got drafted into the Army’s basic training program in preparation to fight in the Korean War. After the Korean War, Winston attended Virginia State College where he received his certification to be a Barber. He fell in love with his childhood sweetheart, Charlotte Mountcastle who lived next door. They were united in marriage on September 17, 1961. From this union three sons were born, the late Cortlandt LeRoy Merritt, Cedric LaRon Merritt, and Clerone LaMont Merritt. Upon moving to the District of Columbia, he was a barber at Fort McNair’s Army Base. In 1968, the family moved to their first house in Landover, Maryland. While barbering, Winston went back to school to get his certification as an Accountant where he worked at various government agencies (i.e., Health and Human Services, Department of Navy, etc.). He served as Treasurer on the Finance Committee at First Baptist Church of Highland Park in Landover, Maryland where the family attended church. In his part-time Winston would prepare taxes. The marriage was dissolved in 1980. Winston, briefly lived in Columbia, Maryland for a period of five years before making Fort Washington, Maryland his home in the mid 1980’s. Winston was a member of Grace United Methodist Church where he served on the Men’s Ministry. Subsequently, he retired from accounting as a Senior Systems Accountant from the Department of Navy in 1999. After retiring, he worked part-time as a substitute teacher at the Fort Washington Forest Elementary School for over three years and performed various odd jobs for the neighbors and his church family. It was around the year 2007 when Winston started showing early signs of dementia. Eventually, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2009. He continued to enjoy retirement, until his health declined further to advanced Alzheimer's, and he couldn’t walk, he entered at-home hospice care in December 2022. Winston Merritt entered his eternal rest on June 29, 2023. Left to cherish his precious memories are his brother Eugene Merritt; his children Cedric LaRon Merritt, Clerone LaMont Merritt; his grandchildren; Deonte’, Cortney, Joshua, Cory, Khari’, Janet’, and Jakai’; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Winston "Miggie" Merritt

November 17, 1935 - June 29, 2023