Obituary of Virginia Birkhead

Funeral Services for Anna Virginia Birkhead of Old Monroe, MO, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, September 27, 2013 at First Baptist Church of Winfield near Winfield, MO. Rev. Mike Ryan, church pastor, will officiate with burial in New Salem Cemetery near Winfield. Serving as pallbearers will be Mark Wheeler, Matthew Linhardt, Dan Brightwell, Mark Sowers, Matthew Staley and Chris Earl. Virginia, 98, passed away in her sleep early Tuesday morning, September 24, 2013 at her home. She had much anticipated going to heaven to be with Jesus and her family and friends who had preceded her. Born July 8, 1915 in Kansas City, MO, she was the daughter of Lanson and Maude Emmert Mayes. Virginia attended Kansas City public schools. She studied teaching for two years at Kansas City Teachers College, one year at Hannibal LaGrange Baptist College and two years at Missouri University in Columbia, MO, graduating in 1942 with Bachelors in Education. She later received her Masters in Education from the University of Missouri. She was united in marriage on May 28, 1939 in Kansas City to Bailey Elston Birkhead. This union was blessed with two daughters: Clarinda Ann and Alice Lee. Virginia began teaching in rural Missouri schools and Kansas City schools. She spent most of her career teaching at University City, MO elementary schools, retiring in 1976 after 25 years. She also taught Sunday School for many years. She was member of Fee Fee Baptist Church in Bridgeton, MO for fifty years and for sixteen years at First Baptist Church of Winfield. Virginia and Bailey lived on the Birkhead family farm near Winfield after retiring. They spent most of their retired years volunteering. She volunteered at Winco for 25 years, was active in the Lincoln County Medical Center Hospital Auxiliary for 25 years and served as secretary for the Board of Directors of Winfield Senior Housing for 27 years. She was also a member of the Missouri Retired Teachers Association and Lincoln County Retired Teachers Association. She is preceded in death by her parents, Lanson and Maude Mayes; two brothers: Robert and Joseph Mayes; three younger sisters: Clarinda Seay, Ruth Ray Moreland and Letty Jane Moreland; and her beloved husband of 57 years, Bailey Birkhead who passed away on December 31, 1996. Survivors include two daughters: Clarinda Wheeler and her husband, Gary, of Old Monroe and Alice Robins-Shofner and her husband, Terry, of Bridgeton; her grandchildren: Janie Staley and her husband, Matthew, of Winfield, Mark Wheeler and his wife, Shelia, of St. Paul, MO, Donna Earl and her husband, Chris, of Winfield, Michelle Linhardt and her husband, Matthew, of Creve Coeur, MO, Christie Robins-Sowers and her husband, Mark, of Creve Coeur, and Alison Brightwell and her husband, Dan of St. Peters, MO; thirty-one great-grandchildren; and one great, great-grandchild on the way. She also leaves many nieces, nephews and friends. She will be greatly missed, but her legacy of love for the Lord, family and service will live on. Visitation will be held from 4:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday, September 26, 2013 at First Baptist Church near Winfield. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Winfield Furnishings Fund, Winco, or the Missouri Baptist Children's Home in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home; 3838 East Highway 47; P.O. Box 253; Winfield, MO 63389.