Obituary for Virginia A. Kirksey (Fair)
This service is being streamed from J.B. Jenkins Funeral Home.
To join the service via Zoom, please click here at the time of service
OR
enter this ID and passcode into your zoom application:
Meeting ID: 837 8797 1979
Passcode: Kirksey
Virginia Ann Kirksey entered this world as a beloved daughter of the late Mr. John Fair and Mrs. Emma Doris Fair on June 30, 1936 in Pensacola, Florida. While growing up in Pensacola, Florida, she adored her three sisters, Gwendolyn, Ora and Rose Mary. As a family, they enjoyed picnics on the beach, gatherings at the family camp, and Sunday drives after dinner.
In her formative years, Virginia graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in Pensacola in 1954. Pursuing higher education, she earned her B.S. Degree in Home Economic Education from Florida A&M University in 1959. She continued graduate studies at Trinity University, University of the District of Columbia and Catholic University.
During her tenure for forty-one years as a home economics teacher, Virginia began her teaching career in Pensacola, Florida from 1959-1964. In 1966, Virginia accepted a teaching position with DC Public Schools. She was department chairperson, and volunteered as an advisor with organizations including the Future Homemakers of America and the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences.
Virginia loved her students, and they loved her. She ran the school store daily, and fed the students extra meals when needed. Additionally, Virginia washed students’ soiled clothes and coats when they had no washing accommodations at home. She also would hide students from gang members in her coat closets after school until she thought it was safe for the students to return home.
After retiring from DC Public Schools in 2000, she became a substitute teacher for Montgomery County Public Schools for seventeen years. Teaching was Virginia’s calling. She extended love and care beyond her family. Her mission was to make this world a better place.
While attending Florida A & M University, Virginia met her college sweetheart, Dr. Carl H. Kirksey. He became her devoted husband of fifty-five years. Their union in 1961 produced three adored and accomplished offspring, namely, John, Carla and Christina.
Most importantly, Virginia Ann Kirksey was extremely family-oriented, and openly displayed her love for her family and friends during her delicious Sunday dinners.
Sunday was the day she expected her children and friends to gather around the dinner table to create loving memories. Virginia was also a very talented seamstress who designed prom dresses, costumes and draperies upon request. Although she enjoyed sewing and cooking, travel was also her passion. She traveled to thirty-one countries and many states. As a mother, she emphasized perseverance, punctuality, discipline, and excellence in education and music.
Virginia peacefully passed away on Friday, December 1, 2023 at 3:07 p.m. with her children, family and friends by her side. She is survived by a son, John Kirksey; two daughters, Carla Kirksey and Christina Kirksey; two sisters, Gwendolyn Jones, and Ora Wills; a brother-in-law, Dr. Emmett Kirksey; a sister-in-law, Jeanne Kirksey and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. Virginia was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Carl Kirksey; sister, Rose Mary Crosby and brother-in-law, Leander Kirksey, Jr. She is also loved and supported by her wonderful caregivers: Hazel McGill, LaRissa Thomas, Valerie Brown, Traci Kornegay, Angela (Bunnee) Barham, Brenda Lambkin, Yolanda Waaldijk, Kia Benson and Rita Houston.
To join the service via Zoom, please click here at the time of service
OR
enter this ID and passcode into your zoom application:
Meeting ID: 837 8797 1979
Passcode: Kirksey
Virginia Ann Kirksey entered this world as a beloved daughter of the late Mr. John Fair and Mrs. Emma Doris Fair on June 30, 1936 in Pensacola, Florida. While growing up in Pensacola, Florida, she adored her three sisters, Gwendolyn, Ora and Rose Mary. As a family, they enjoyed picnics on the beach, gatherings at the family camp, and Sunday drives after dinner.
In her formative years, Virginia graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in Pensacola in 1954. Pursuing higher education, she earned her B.S. Degree in Home Economic Education from Florida A&M University in 1959. She continued graduate studies at Trinity University, University of the District of Columbia and Catholic University.
During her tenure for forty-one years as a home economics teacher, Virginia began her teaching career in Pensacola, Florida from 1959-1964. In 1966, Virginia accepted a teaching position with DC Public Schools. She was department chairperson, and volunteered as an advisor with organizations including the Future Homemakers of America and the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences.
Virginia loved her students, and they loved her. She ran the school store daily, and fed the students extra meals when needed. Additionally, Virginia washed students’ soiled clothes and coats when they had no washing accommodations at home. She also would hide students from gang members in her coat closets after school until she thought it was safe for the students to return home.
After retiring from DC Public Schools in 2000, she became a substitute teacher for Montgomery County Public Schools for seventeen years. Teaching was Virginia’s calling. She extended love and care beyond her family. Her mission was to make this world a better place.
While attending Florida A & M University, Virginia met her college sweetheart, Dr. Carl H. Kirksey. He became her devoted husband of fifty-five years. Their union in 1961 produced three adored and accomplished offspring, namely, John, Carla and Christina.
Most importantly, Virginia Ann Kirksey was extremely family-oriented, and openly displayed her love for her family and friends during her delicious Sunday dinners.
Sunday was the day she expected her children and friends to gather around the dinner table to create loving memories. Virginia was also a very talented seamstress who designed prom dresses, costumes and draperies upon request. Although she enjoyed sewing and cooking, travel was also her passion. She traveled to thirty-one countries and many states. As a mother, she emphasized perseverance, punctuality, discipline, and excellence in education and music.
Virginia peacefully passed away on Friday, December 1, 2023 at 3:07 p.m. with her children, family and friends by her side. She is survived by a son, John Kirksey; two daughters, Carla Kirksey and Christina Kirksey; two sisters, Gwendolyn Jones, and Ora Wills; a brother-in-law, Dr. Emmett Kirksey; a sister-in-law, Jeanne Kirksey and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. Virginia was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Carl Kirksey; sister, Rose Mary Crosby and brother-in-law, Leander Kirksey, Jr. She is also loved and supported by her wonderful caregivers: Hazel McGill, LaRissa Thomas, Valerie Brown, Traci Kornegay, Angela (Bunnee) Barham, Brenda Lambkin, Yolanda Waaldijk, Kia Benson and Rita Houston.