Obituaries – Their Stories Live On

Mother Lee Esther Hairston, of Beckley, West Virginia went home to be with the Lord on Monday, January 4, 2021 after a life well lived.

Born on February 14, 1931, to the late George Washington Ross and Louise Holland Ross Beamer, she was the youngest of five children and last living of her siblings. Mother Hairston accepted Christ at an early age at New Salem Baptist Church in Tams, West Virginia and later became a member of Magnolia Baptist Church of Helen, West Virginia. After relocating to Beckley, she became a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, under the Pastorage of Rev. Nelson Staples, Jr. In 1996, she joined Heart of God Ministries Church and Bishop Fred T. Simms became her Pastor. It is no secret that she loved her some Bishop & First Lady Simms and blessed them often with her divine cooking! She was also a member of Bishop’s Choir and was known and loved by all as “Mother Hairston”.

In 1953, she married Nathaniel Hairston and they were blessed to be married for forty years. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her son Nathaniel D. “Lane” Hairston, stepson James Young, brothers Matthew “Mackie” Ross, James “Bama” Ross, and sisters Margaret Wilkes and Mozella Walker.

Left to cherish her memory are her children, Sandra Blaney, James (Rose) Hairston, Rhonda (Clifford) Robinson, Keith (Lisa) Hairston, Sheri Hairston, Sharon “Boo” Hairston, Mervin (Karen) Hairston, Natasha Hairston, Brenda Cooper & Darla Wehrle; 14 grandchildren, 40 great grandchildren, 5 great great grandchildren; special daughters Robin Saunders & Cherise Carter; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Mother Hairston was a sharp lady and she always dressed the part! Of all her wonderful gifts, she will be remembered most for her “no nonsense” advise. She never minced her words, and lovingly meant what she said and said what she meant. You knew she loved you most when she welcomed you in her home, fed you at her table and told you what you needed to hear. Home at Last, Take your rest...we loved you so much, but God loved you best!

Homegoing Celebration will be 12:30PM Sunday, January 10, 2021 at Heart of God Ministries Church 1703 S. Kanawha St. Beckley with Elder David Leo Moore and Bishop Fred T. Simms, D.D., Pastor officiating. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Prosperity.

Friends, while wearing gloves and masks and observing social distancing, may view beginning at 12:00PM.

Email condolences to ritchie-johnson@suddenlinkmail.com

Arrangements entrusted to Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.