Virgie gained her wings on March 9, 2025. Virgie was born on June 23, 1938, in Durant Mississippi to the union of the late Sarah and Wiley Horton. She migrated to Toledo, OH in 1955 with her first love and husband James Smith of 61 years, until his death.
Once in Toledo, Virgie opened her home to many relatives that needed a place to stay. she loved to help others and referred to herself as the mom to many people.
Virgie was baptized at an early age. She lived a life dedicated to serving the Lord and her family. She loved to cook and got the most pleasure watching her family and friends gather at her home eating, laughing and enjoying her food. Virgie loved to sing and proudly sang in the choir at her church. She was well known for her soprano voice and solo renditions of "It Is Well with My Soul and There's a Bright Side Somewhere". It was common at family gatherings for her and her sister Clara to bless the family with a song or two or three.
Virgie loved her family, but once the grandchildren and great-grandchildren were born, she developed a deep love and unbreakable bond with each grandchild. She was affectionately known as Nana and everyone knew they could count on Nana to lend her support in any way that her grandchildren needed, which include attending sporting events, school programs or advice.
Virgie had a good sense of humor and a quick wit that continued to the end. She did not hesitate to speak her mind. While working at Woodward High School she would always ask the young men with sagging pants, if they had forgotten their belts. Virgie loved the students at Woodward High School and "adopted "many of them as her kids.
Virgie and her 4 daughters had a special relationship. She enjoyed cracking jokes on them but always had a special pride when she talked about her daughters and their families. Virgie also shared a special love for her nieces and nephews. Virgie spent her last year's dealing with her failing health but would always say that all her good days outweighed her bad days. She gave God all his praise until the end.
Virgie was preceded in death by her loving husband James. She was the 9th child of 13 siblings and the last remaining sibling. She was preceded in death by her brothers Wiley, Willie James, Cecil, Henry Lee, Corneilus and George; sisters Fedora, Nancy, Lizzie, Clara, Ruth, Eva, and her niece Betty and her oldest daughter Anya.
She leaves to cherish her memory her daughters Shirley Easterly-Smith (Chris), Treveror King (Montriese), Vonda Williams (Eric) and son-in-law Leroy Seymour. Grandchildren Sean Easterly (Monica), Lee Seymour (Ashley), Thedore and Paul, James and Jonathan King, Erica, Erin and Elana, Chris (Melissa) and Tahya Smith and great grandchildren Christin, Daniel, Willow, Josiah, Jaxsyn, Dylan, Charli, Bailey, Charles and Logan. Her two caregivers who became her daughters Jewel Washington and Treasa Williams and her special niece-daughter Stacy Turner and her brother-n-law Earl Smith who filled the gaps when her daughters were unable to.
Virgie was surrounded by family as she exhaled her last peaceful breath, and her soul was exalted to heaven.
A special thanks to Ohio Living Hospice services for the care, they provided.
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Virgie gained her wings on March 9, 2025. Virgie was born on June 23, 1938, in Durant Mississippi to the union of the late Sarah and Wiley Horton. She migrated to Toledo, OH in 1955 with her first love and husband James Smith of 61 years, until his death.
Once in Toledo, Virgie opened her home to many relatives that needed a place to st