Virginia Horton Mercer

Born in Swansea, a daughter of the late George B.M. and Jane C. (Webber) Horton, she lived in Swansea for many years before moving to Fall River in 1953.

She was a graduate of Cambridge Latin High School, class of 1945 and Leslie College, class of 1947. She was a 3rd and 4th grade teacher at St. Michaels Parochial School in Fall River for 35 years before retiring in 1993. After retirement she volunteered at the school helping children with writing, reading, and math.

Mrs. Mercer was a communicant of St. Joseph’s Church in Fall River where she was a eucharistic minister, lector, and C.C.D. instructor for the last thirty-five years. She was a devoted member of Our Lady of Good Counsel Praesidium of the Legion of Mary and also a member of the National Catholic Teacher’s Association and was awarded the Marion Medal in 2003 by Bishop Coleman. She was an avid reader.

She is survived by four sons, James J. Mercer and his wife Thao, Henry T. Mercer Jr. and, Robert A. Mercer and his wife Mary Anne all of Fall River, and John J. Mercer and his wife Anne of Somerset, two sisters, Jean C. Couto of Fairfield, CA and Sylvia A. Griffin of Waynesboro, GA, six grandchildren Scott M. LaFleur, Christine Chace, Laurie Ann LaFleur Bartley and her husband Kris, James, Nicole, and Jillian Mercer, great grandson Braeden Bartley, several nieces and nephews. She was mother of the late Barbara L. Manchester and Eileen Mercer, sister of the late Barbara L. Ashcroft, Gerald W., George A., Albert P., Clarence B., Francis C., and Claude Horton. She was grandmother of the late Kenneth Borges.

Her Funeral will be held Friday September 17, 2010 at 9:00AM from the WARING-SULLIVAN HOME OF MEMORIAL TRIBUTE at CHERRY PLACE 178 Winter St. Fall River, followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:00AM in St. Joseph’s Church,1335 North Main St., Fall River. Visiting hours Thursday from 5:00 to 8:00PM. Contributions in her honor may be made to Harold Hudner Oncology 795 Middle St. Fall River, MA 02720. Burial in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Fall River.