"Parting is as much a part of life as coming together, so as I go, remember our life together. It has been the gift of God. In His goodness, He created me unique in all the world, and by His grace I made it all the daylong to this very moment. By His love, fully revealed in Jesus, I have been made whole."

Irene McLain Myers passed away at home on December 18, 2020. Irene was a true southern girl, grew up in Jackson, MS, graduated from Ole Miss, and received her MBA from William and Mary. She and her first husband, Jack, lived in many areas of the country, but ended up settling in Virginia, where they remained until Jack's death in 1984.

Irene enjoyed a 23 year career in the City of Newport News Recreation Department as a fitness instructor. She was a longtime member of Hilton Baptist Church where she served as a Sunday school teacher and became one of the first women deacons. Irene loved the Lord and she loved people.

Irene met Al playing tennis; they married a year later in 1992 and moved to beautiful Smith Mountain Lake in 1995. Irene felt it a blessing to have 20 wonderful years at the lake enjoying the waterfront activities with her friends and grandchildren on vacation. She was active in Rocky Mount United Methodist Church, where she continued to teach Sunday school. She also enjoyed square dancing, hiking, entertaining, reading on her dock, and watching the bluebirds.

In their later senior years, Irene and Al moved back to Newport News to reside at The Chesapeake Retirement Community. Irene enjoyed living in the cottage on the beautiful campus and taking advantage of the many activities there. She appreciated her many friends and the caring staff. She was a member of Chestnut Memorial Methodist Church. Irene loved southern cooking, all kinds of music, dancing, gardening, and exercising. She was the glue that held her family together, and her incredibly strong, kind, and generous spirit enriched all who knew her.

Irene was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Lucille Garrett, her first husband Jack McLain, her second husband Albert Myers, and her daughter Ellen. She is survived by her daughter Sharon Martin (Bobby), grandchildren Jonathan Brewer (Stacy), Gregory Brewer, Mark Brewer, Kathryn Stoyer (Michael), their father Jim Brewer, great-grandchildren Olivia, Jack, and Ellison, and many dear friends that she loved so much. Irene was an only child with a small family, but she thought of her dear friend Phebe Hyde as a sister, and Bobby Martin's family as her own, including Gaye Martin and Bonnie Bedard, grandchildren Jason Martin and Jared Martin (Nancy), and great-grandchildren Katelynn and Joseph.

Monetary donations may be made to the Chestnut Memorial Methodist Church at 1024 Harpersville Rd, Newport News, VA 23601 or The Chesapeake Retirement Benevolent Fund at 955 Harpersville Rd, Newport News, VA 23601.

Irene would like you to know she had a long and blessed life. She had some heartbreaking losses of family members and friends, but she had a tremendous amount of joy and a faith that sustained her.

Psalm 30: "There may be weeping for the night, but joy comes in the morning".

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at a later date.