Virginia Porter Estes

VIRGINIA ESTES

Virginia Porter Estes of Steens, age 93, passed away peacefully in her sleep on May 16, 2023, at her daughter’s home in Batesville, MS. A  funeral service will be held on Saturday, May 20, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at Memorial Gunter Peel Funeral Home Chapel and graveside services to follow at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Cemetery, with her cousin, Rev. Mike Stephens officiating. Visitation will be held Saturday for one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Mrs. Estes was born in Steens, MS on April 2, 1930, to the late Jimmie V. and Arline Shepherd Porter. She was a 1948 graduate of New Hope High School, where she was elected Miss New Hope, Most Beautiful, Girl Most Likely to Succeed, and Most Dignified Senior, and served as senior class secretary.

In January 1955, she married Maurice Edward Estes, Sr. After living in Texas for two years, she and her husband returned to Steens, and Mrs. Estes worked for more than 28 years in civil service at Columbus Air Force Base. Upon her retirement, she enjoyed traveling with family and friends and visiting with her extended family. She was also fond of going dancing on occasion.

In addition to her parents and her husband of 52 years, she was preceded in death by her brother, Charles Wayne Porter. She is survived by her son, Maurice Edward “Eddie” Estes, Jr. and his wife Darla; daughter, Carole Estes Murphey and her husband Smith; granddaughter Carole Addison Murphey; twin grandsons Archer Smith Murphey and Webb Smith Murphey; her sisters in law, Charlotte Ott Porter Laggy and Barbara Lewis Estes; a nephew; three nieces, and several grand nephews. Her greatest joy later in life was spending time with her three grandchildren and helping to take care of them for which her daughter is eternally grateful.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St.
Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or a charity of the donor’s choice.