Deaconess Hattie Lenora Blount Armstrong, daughter of the late Howard N. and Mary C. Blount, was born on August 27, 1934 in Edenton, NC.  Deaconess Hattie Armstrong entered into a peaceful sleep on December 11, 2017 after a long illness at the Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth,VA.
Hattie was educated in Chowan County Public Schools, where she was a happy child and loved by her family. She had a very close relationship with her parents and siblings, and often told us the story of how they slept in the same bed together when they were kids, and how they danced and played. She often stated, “My siblings and I stuck together and loved one another”. Hattie was a country girl at heart. She worked in the tobacco mills and later on, she worked in Virginia Beach, at the Oceanfront, before returning back home in Edenton to live with her father. Hattie loved cooking and dancing, she even organized a dance group with a few of her friends. While back home in Edenton she met and married Walter L. Armstrong. During Walter’s 22 years of Army
Service, Hattie resided in Germany, Seattle, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, and North Carolina. After Walter retired in the 70’s, Hattie and the family moved to Virginia to be close to her parents in NC. Hattie was a dear friend to many, and it didn’t matter the nationality of the person, she just enjoyed having friends and meeting new people as she traveled from base to base. Hattie was a very caring person. She had enduring friendships that lasted over 60 years. She instilled the value of family, and a love of God, in all of her children. She made sure that she kept in touch with her family and friends by phone all of the time. After three years of courting, on October 3, 1954, she married the love of her life, Walter L. Armstrong. To this union, 5 children were born.
Her family developed and bloomed into a unit of love. Caring for her family was her main priority. Hattie was not only a mother to her five children,  but also a mother to children in the neighborhood. She provided daycare for several children of her church, and assisted neighbors whenever she could. Hattie was a great cook and loved feeding everyone who came over to her house. She was a true nurturer, and loved with a big heart. Being a military wife was not easy, but Hattie was a proud Army wife. She was the rock for her family in times when her husband was serving. She corresponded with many friends that she met at the various army bases. One correspondence that was dear to her, was with the German family that housed her and her four children while stationed there. For almost thirty years correspondence was sent back and forth by way of Christmas cards and pictures.
Hattie loved the Lord, and accepted Jesus Christ as her personal savior at a young age at Pleasant Grove AME Zion Church in Edenton, NC. After moving to Virginia, Hattie joined New Testament Church under the late Pastor Charles H. Bowens II. Hattie loved serving in the church, and before she became a deaconess she served on various church ministries. She served on the church cooking ministry and the Adult Female Usher Board. She became a deaconess under the leadership of Bishop Jerome L. Williams. Hattie was a pillar of the church, and a mother to all.
Hattie was a member of the Inner Circle of Friends Social Club for over 15 years. She was a member of the Larosavelt Neighbors, a group of neighbors living on LaRosa Court and three families from Roosevelt Blvd.  She loved to crochet and knit which was an art passed down from her mother. She also took up pottery while stationed in Kentucky along with other stay at home army wives. In the past couple of years she loved to color creative art and displayed her masterpieces proudly. She loved to cook, and was known for her sweet potato rolls, coconut pies, and lemon meringue pies. She loved dogs, cats, and enjoyed watching western movies.
Hattie will be missed by so many, she fought her illness with strength and never complained about why she was ill. She trusted God all the way to the end, she had faith and God granted her peace that surpasses all understanding.
She is predeceased by her husband of 57 years, Walter L. Armstrong, who passed away in 2012. She leaves behind to cherish her memory five children: Kenneth Armstrong, Lee Courtney Armstrong (Mattie), Mary L. Miles, Charlotte Armstrong Jones (Brian), and Walter Armstrong, Jr. (Shaveeta); one sister: Mary Overton, two brothers: Pastor Howard N. Blount, and Herman Lee Blount (Bertha); one brother-in-law, George A. Jordan; one sister-in-law, Bettie L. Durden; ten grandchildren: Kenny Jr., Sharday (Shaq), Jamaal, Ashley, Quentin (Makeia), De’von, Chris, Davon, Simone, and Moochie; 10 great-grandchildren: Kuwait, Sanye, Ava, Ana, Madison, Chastity, Makayla, Asia, Maya, and Lorna; close friends Cathenia Brown, Catherine Springfield, Delores Burney, Estelle Newby, Eunice Cephus, Pearline Shields, and Jessie Knight; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Viewing will be held on Friday, December 15, 2017, from 12 Noon to 8 pm at Corprew Funeral Home, 1822 Portsmouth Blvd., Portsmouth, VA  23704.  A funeral service will be held on Saturday, December 16, 2017, 12 Noon at New Testament Church, 403 Rapidan St., Portsmouth, VA  23701.  Interment will be at Roosevelt Memorial Park, 1101 Campostella Rd., Chesapeake, VA  23320.