Obituaries – Their Stories Live On

Mrs. Elsie Winona Fuller Hairston, 77, of Charleston, WV, went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on August 20, 2022.

Elsie was born to the late George and Clara Belle Fuller on July 11, 1945, in Iroquois, WV.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Aaron Hairston; daughter, Taneisha Hairston; parents, George and Clara Fuller and younger brother, Charles Fuller.

She is survived by her three brothers, Robert, Ronald “Ronnie,” and Donald Ray Fuller, and one sister, Alice Fuller.

Sis. Hairston also has three surviving children: Rodney Hairston, Jonathan Hairston, and Rev. Franklin (Jennifer) Hairston; along with eight grandchildren: Natasha Campbell, Stacy Lawson, and Deeja Hairston; India Hairston-James and Zharia James who she raised; Kevin, Kaliyah, and Damir Hairston; Aiden Darr; plus, a dear niece who she helped raise, Clarissa Rutledge. Elsie was also the proud great-grandmother of five: Amiyah Penn, Jaiden and Jayce Brooks, and Quinn and Carter Darr.

Sis. Hairston spent a long life in service to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She began her walk with Jesus as a young child, and this continued throughout her adult years. As a humble servant of God, she displayed Christ-like love as a pastor’s wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. Elsie, much like her mother Clara, boldly approached the throne of God daily as a faithful Prayer Warrior and effectual witness for Jesus Christ. She loved to spend time with all of her family, and she especially enjoyed reading and writing poetry.

Sis. Hairston sacrificed her time, energy and health to help raise her children and grandchildren, and to support the work of Jesus Christ as a steadfast, compassionate pastor’s wife. She and her husband Aaron faithfully served at the Shiloh Baptist Church in Carolina, WV, and the Metropolitan Baptist Church in Charleston, WV, where she started the “Feed the Homeless” ministry on every 3 rd Saturday of month. During this time, she faithfully served the Tygart Valley and Mt. Olive Baptist Associations, were she elected as the President of Minister’s Wives and Widows Council. She also served in other roles with the WV State Baptist Convention in multiple capacities. In her later years, she joined her husband at the St. John’s Baptist Church in Montgomery, WV, under the leadership of Pastor Doug Mullins until she became ill.

Sis. Hairston loved art! She loved to paint and draw flowers, animals, and sceneries. In 1969 she was certified as a registered medical technician and worked in hospitals and clinics throughout the state of WV. After a short illness, she served alongside her husband for the Glory of God.

Sis. Hairston will be dearly missed by her family and by all who knew her. But we celebrate on this moment knowing she is now with Jesus Christ. Her fight was fixed, the battle has ended and her journey is now over. We believe she would want to use this moment to retell the simple message of the good news of salvation.

Funeral service will be 1:00PM Saturday, September 3, 2022 at Central Baptist Church Brooks & G. Streets Beckley with Pastor Doug Mullins officiating. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens Prosperity.

Friends, while wearing masks and observing social distancing, may view and visit with the family one hour prior to the funeral service.

Email condolences to ritchiejohnsonfuneralparlor@gmail.com.

Arrangements entrusted to Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.