Regina Surles

Minister Regina Erskine Surles passed away Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. She was born in Chattanooga on Dec. 6, 1958 to the late Henry Erskine and Fannie M. Walton Erskine. She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents Sam Erskine and Berta Cowan Erskine and maternal grandparents King and Roxie Walton.Regina was a 1976 graduate of Brainerd High School and St. Leo University; she received her MBA from Nova Southeastern University. She was pursuing a Doctorate of Divinity before she became ill. She was previously employed with TVA and Carta in Chattanooga, and worked with Fort McPherson in Atlanta, Ga., and Verizon in Tampa, Fla. She found her love for Christ at an early age at Mount Canaan Baptist Church. She later joined Greater Second Missionary Baptist Church where she served as Sunday school teacher and participated in many other auxiliaries. Regina was currently a member of Turner Chapel AME Church in Marietta Ga., where she received her license to preach the Gospel.Regina leaves to cherish her memories her daughters, Kenya R. Surles, Mount Dora Fla., and Jamila (Bruce) Walker, Chattanooga; grandchildren, Mekhi and Brielle Walker; mother, Fannie M. Erskine; sisters, Sherrie E. Dowdy, Linda R. Thompson, Henrietta Erskine, Patricia A. Leatherwood, and Lorraine (Kenneth) Miller, all of Chattanooga; brother, Joe W. Walton, Huntsville, Ala.; nephews, Kevin D. Erskine, Chicago Ill., Reginald D. Leatherwood, Knoxville, Jarrett A. McGhee; nieces, LaWanda S. Davis, LaShanda D. Leatherwood, Malika T. Maples, Kenisha S. and Kendra S. Miller, Chattanooga, Lauren J. Richards, Memphis, and a host of other relatives and friends.Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 31, at Greater Second Missionary Baptist Church. Interment: Highland Cemetery. The body will lie in state after noon today and the family will receive friends from 6-7 p.m. this evening at John P. Franklin Funeral Home, 1101 Dodds Avenue, 622-9995.