Virginia Raines Fesmire

Virginia Raines Fesmire, age 90, passed away September 2, 2012 at her home in the Malesus community. Funeral Services are at 2:00 pm in the South Chapel of George A. Smith and Sons, with Burial to follow in Ebenezer Cemetery. A Visitation with the family will begin at 11:00 am before the Service.

Mrs. Fesmire was born on July 23, 1922 in the Malesus community to the late Noble Lafayette and Bessie Lillard Raines. Their decedents played an important role in helping build the early community of Malesus. She graduated with Honors from Malesus High School and attended West Tennessee Business College.

She Worked at the Milan Arsenal during her earlier years. After working in the Jackson City Building Inspectors office for several years, she became a secretary to Commissioner Ben Langford in the old City Hall. There she was known for her sweet, kind and helpful spirit. She retired from the City of Jackson after 23 years.

She has been a lifelong member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church which began as Hays Avenue United Methodist in the earlier years. She was a member of the Mildred Watts Sunday School Class. She and Ted loved their Church and enjoyed an active role there.

Virginia was a skilled seamstress and made beautiful cloth dolls that a number of surprised children were happy to receive. Later, thru our Recreation Department, she and her sister, Betty Henderson, enjoyed making many pretty ceramic pieces.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Otis “Ted” Fesmire, a local pharmacist, and two brothers J.T. Raines of Jackson and Hugh R. Raines of Paducah, Kentucky.

Mrs. Fesmire is survived by a son, John Fesmire and a daughter, Sharon (Tony) Cotton; three grandchildren in Jackson, Amy Dalton Buckley (Allen), Ashley Dalton (Heather), Tim Dalton (Hillary), three great-grandchildren, Will Buckley, Ty Buckley and Blaine Verdung, one brother, Billy Lillard Raines of Jackson, three sisters, Betty Henderson of Jackson, Rose Alford of Richmond, Kentucky and Marinel Cavender of Birmingham, Alabama; and a number of nieces and nephews.

George A. Smith and Sons South Chapel

731-427-5555