Virginia Gilmer

Ruby Virginia Gilmer became absent from her body to be present with the Lord on February 21, 2023.  She was born on September 17, 1923 to Tommie Lee and Eunice Clark Brittain.  She was the youngest daughter and the third of four siblings.

Her caring spirit and generous heart could be felt by anyone she came in contact with.  She had a special gift of not only seeing the good in others, but bringing out the best in them as well.  To know her was to be loved by her.

Her love of gardening meant many of her friends and family developed a ‘green thumb’ to care for plants and flowers. She was like a ‘mom’ to countless friends and cooked for anyone who visited her home. Her ability to sew like no other, not only afforded her a job, but also a gift that was shared as she sewed countless specialties for family and loved ones.

Aunt Jean’s unwavering faith in her Heavenly Father was the foundation upon which her life was built. Her faith only grew stronger in her final years of life. She loved Jesus Christ and read His word, the Bible, every day. She taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, served as Church Hostess, but her greatest love was rocking her babies in the church nursery! This was evidenced by a newly remodeled church nursery that was dedicated in her name in 2012.

She was such a ‘light in the world’ and will be deeply missed by all who were fortunate enough to know her. She touched the lives of many across multiple generations. Her family meant everything to her and in her eyes, each of you reading this was family to her!

She is survived by her sister-in-law, Lorene Brittain; nieces, Tommie (Thomas) Warnock, Linda Fortenberry, Lillian (Jerry) Lay, Imogene (Jimmy) Byrd, Debbie Tischer, Susan (Hugh) Strebeck, Jonnette (Mark) Moss, Patricia (Haywood) Reeves; nephew, J.W. Shepherd; lifelong friends, Nell Green and Max Loper; and a host of great nieces, nephews and cousins.  She was proud to be called Aunt Jean by a huge circle of family and friends!  She was preceded in death by her first husband, George Gilmer and her second husband, Morgan Gilmer; sisters, K.D. Oliphant and Reba Ware; brother, Johnie Brittain; nieces, Virginia Lee Hartley, Mary Spivey and Genell May.

Please join Aunt Jean’s family in celebrating her life on Saturday, February 25, 2023 at Calvary Baptist Church.  A visiting hour will be held at 1:00, followed by a Celebration of Life service at 2:00 and interment afterwards at Clark Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to Gideons International or Clark Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 1597, Brandon, MS  39043.

The family wishes to send a special thank-you to the wonderful nurses and staff at Carthage Senior Care and Accent Hospice for their compassionate care.

Ott and Lee Funeral Home in Forest has been entrusted with the arrangements.