Dorothy M. Marsh Fariss

Dorothy Fariss, 83, went to be with the Lord on March 16, 2016. Born to missionaries Thomas and Margaret Marsh in Tanzania, Africa, she trusted Jesus as her Savior and honored Him with lifelong service. She met her late husband Fred Fariss at Columbia Bible College. In 1958, they established Faith Baptist Church in Virginia Beach, where she served for years as organist. As a Norfolk Human Services Supervisor, she served children in foster care and foster parents. Dorothy volunteered with Urban Discovery Ministries, the Central Library, and AARP’s Tax Wise program. In recent years, she enjoyed fellowship with First Baptist Norfolk’s Master’s Choir and Shepherd’s Sunday School class.

Left to cherish her memories are her sons, Rene Fariss and wife, Sue, and Michael Fariss and wife Kim; her daughters, Darlene Brock and husband, Ron, and Jane Brzezinski and husband, Michael; her sister, Margaret Stoddard; her sister-in-law, Elizabeth Marsh; 13 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren.

A service will be held graveside at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, March 21, 2016 at Rosewood Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. on Sunday at Rosewood Kellum Funeral Home. Memorial donations may be made to Project House of Hope, 3155 East Point St., East Point, GA 30344 or

Urban Discovery Ministries, POB 6381, Norfolk, VA 23508 or Susan G. Koman Breast Cancer Foundation, 5005 LBJ Freeway, Suite 250, Dallas, TX 75244.