Virginia Ruth Johnson Fairley passed away at her home in Clinton, MS on November 14, 2022.  Virginia was born in Brazil where her missionary parents, Elton and Elizabeth Johnson, served their entire ministry.  Virginia completed the family of one sister, Ettie Jean and two brothers, Robert Elton II and Earnest Jackson.

Virginia graduated from Carson Newman College and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. She worked as YWA director for the Mississippi Baptist WMU until she married her late husband Reverend Ovis Fairley, a widower with five children. Instantly she became a wife and mother.

Her Christian faith was an important part of her entire life. Virginia served alongside her husband in church ministry in Montana and Wyoming before returning to Mississippi to assist him in starting ministry to families of employees at Parchment Penitentiary.

Ovis and Virginia continued in ministry by church planting in Orlando, Florida. After Ovis's death, she returned to Mississippi to be close to three of her five children living in the state and to friends from the past. Virginia was blessed to have an opportunity to work once again for the Mississippi Baptist Convention until she retired. During her senior years she continued to serve in her church and community in a variety of ways.

Virginia was a devoted wife and loving mother to her children and their spouses. She was blessed with 12 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.  She will be greatly missed around the game table or dinner table for deep conversations and light chats anytime of the day.

Please join us in celebrating her life on Tuesday, January 31, 2023 at First Baptist Church Clinton, MS at 11:00 am.  A family receiving line will begin at 10:00 am. As an expression of sympathy, memorial donations may be made to the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention for the Jackson/Johnson scholarship fund, established for ministerial students in Brazil.