On December 21, 1926, in Cuthberth, Georgia, God blessed the late Jesse Sr. and Cassie Mae Christian with their only daughter, Virginia Louise Christian. She was the youngest of four children, the late Jesse Jr., the late Willie J., and the late L. C. 

 

On May 13, 1945, Virginia graduated from Randolph Clay High School. After graduation, she became a blessing to others by becoming a schoolteacher. Virginia married A. J. Smith, and on December 7, 1947, she gave birth to her first child, Marvin Smith. In 1948, Virginia moved to Miami, Florida, where she later met and married John Henry Slater. They had four children, Johnnie Ruth Slater, Marian Slater, Larry Slater, and Patricia Slater. After becoming a widow for the second time, Virginia did not give up on love. She eventually met and married Eugene Williams, Jr., and on September 2, 1966, she gave birth to her youngest child, Eugene Williams III.

 

Virginia was a long standing active member of St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church in Miami, Florida. Her faith and devotion to God was instilled in her at a very early age, and she made sure to pass it along to her children, family, and friends. After retiring from Atlantic Envelope Company as a machine operator in the late 1970s, Virginia enjoyed spending her time visiting with family and friends, cooking, and attending church. But as much as she loved all of those things, her favorite pastime was fishing! Rest assured, any day of the week you would be able to find her sitting in front of a body of water with a cane pole in hand ready to yank as many fish out of the water as she could before the sun set. After returning home, she would let everyone know they’d better come over and get some fish. Virginia was a generous, loving, fiery woman who touched the lives of everyone with whom she came into contact. She always made you feel welcomed and loved and was truly a joy to be around. Her face would light up when she saw you, and you could feel the love radiate from her heart. She had a heart of gold that will surely be missed.

 

On June 2, 2024, after 97 full years of life, God called home one of his most precious angels. Virginia was preceded in death by her three husbands, A. J. Smith, John Henry Slater, and Eugene Williams Jr.; and three daughters and one daughter-in-law, Marian Slater, Patricia Ann Slater, Johnnie Ruth West, and Linda Slater (Larry).

 

She is survived by her three sons, Marvin Smith (Dawn) of Jacksonville, Arkansas, and Larry Slater and Eugene Williams III, both of Miami, Florida; 11 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, and other family members and friends all of whom she loved very dearly.