COLUMBUS
Ida L. Holt Trapp, 101, passed away peacefully on October 26, 2020 at Four Seasons Health Center in Columbus, IN. where she lived for ten years.
Mrs. Trapp was born on August 29, 1919 in Surry County, Virginia. She was the fourth of seven children of William Holt and Lavinia Haskett Holt. She also had six half brothers and sisters.
At an early age Mrs. Trapp was very curious with a strong desire to learn new things. Reading became her passion and education was her goal. She entered elementary school knowing how to read and completed two grades her first year. After completing the seventh grade her education was interrupted because high school was unavailable to African American children where she lived. Several years later she did attend school for two more years in the neighboring county.
When she was an adult, Mrs. Trapp moved to Hampton, Virginia where she lived with her sister. While there, she enrolled in George P. Phenix High School and was able to complete her high school education.
Ida was employed at Hampton University for over 35 years, initially in the laundry department and later as a telephone operator. She had an outgoing personality and sought to help others when possible. Over the years she befriended many students attending Hampton University, some of whom were international students. Occasionally, she invited students who remained on campus during the Christmas Holidays to her home for dinner with her family. The students appreciated her friendship, caring words and home cooking. Several of them referred to her as their “surrogate mother”.
Mrs. Trapp and her husband, Chester Trapp, met in Hampton. He was a U.S. Army veteran and a widower with two sons. They were married in 1945 and together had two sons. For the next 59 years they had a beautiful partnership together based on mutual faith, love, caring and sharing.
Mrs. Trapp accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior as a youth and was baptized at Mt. Nebo Baptist Church in Surry County. She joined Zion Baptist Church in Hampton where she was a dedicated and committed member for over 75 years. She served in many roles and was a deaconess.
Mrs. Trapp was a loving wife and caring mother who worked full-time while also giving her time and talents to support her church and to help many in the community. She was an advocate for civil rights, voting rights and human rights. She was an active member of United Order of Tents and NAACP organizations. Ida was cited for her many years of volunteer service at the Virginia School for Deaf and Blind in Hampton.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Chester Trapp; step-son, Leonard Trapp; brothers, Harvey Holt, Nicholas Holt, Filton Holt; sisters, Naomi Holt, Ruthelia DeSantiago, Alice Holt, Mary Myrick, Julia Osborne, Addie DeSantiago, Clarissa Batts, Eutoka Brown and Princess Holt.
Ida leaves to cherish her memory: sons, Arthur (Helen) Trapp of Monument, Colorado, Donald (Shirley) Trapp of Columbus, Indiana, Archibald Trapp of Hampton, Virginia; daughters-in-law, Clara Trapp-Simmons of Whiting, New Jersey and Cynthia Trapp of Greenwood, Indiana; grandchildren, Gregory (Ginette) Trapp, Shelia (Michael) Trapp-Tobias, both of Columbus, Georgia, Lenny Trapp of Piscataway, New Jersey, Rashaad Trapp of Columbus, Indiana, Brandon Trapp of Pikesville, Maryland, Yvonne (Amber) Trapp of Leonia, New Jersey, Marsha (Jamall) Gonzales-Sewell of Montgomery, Alabama and Justin (Kendra Werst) Trapp of New Ashford, Massachusetts; nieces, Clara Brown, Thelma Green, both of Morristown, New Jersey; a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
The funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. November 7, 2020 at Cooke Brothers Funeral Chapel, 1601 27th Street, Newport News, Virginia 23607. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home. We do ask that visitors follow the social distancing guidelines once inside the funeral home and masks are required. In addition, the funeral service may be live streamed at cookebros.com then click on live video at the top of the page.
Burial will be at Hampton Memorial Gardens.
Memorial contributions may be made to: Zion Baptist Church, 125 W. County Street, Hampton VA 23663
Arrangements entrusted to Barkes, Weaver & Glick Funeral Home.
