Virgil Lee Whipper Hird

Virgil Lee “Fruitty” Whipper-Hird was born June 24, 1940, to the late William Samuel Whipper and Irene Kelly-Whipper. She was married to James E Hird in Bradenton, Florida. She attended Public Schools in Manatee County, Florida. She accepted Christ at an early age and was a member of St. Stephens AME Church. Shesang in the choir and served with the church Food Ministry. Shewas kind loving and treated everyone like family. If you needed a place to stay, she made room. She was full of life and loved to dance. She was part of that village that disciplined all the children.Prayer was very important to her, and her main prayer was “Have a blessed day, a blessed drive and a God filled day and night, In Jesus holy name amen.

She was preceded in death by her brothers, William “Bill” Whipper, Daniel Whipper, sisters, Dorothy Whipper, Rosetta Newsome, Maggie B. Slater, Gladys Smith, and grandchildren, Karesha Hird and Vernon Dixon, Jr.

On April 18, 2022, she departed this life at the age of 81 at Northside Hospital in Pinellas County, Fl. She leaves to cherish her memories to her 4 children, Gale Dixon of Arlington, TX, Irene Brooks of Palmetto, FL, Connie Hird of St. Petersburg, FL, and Daniel (Anginell) Hird of Edgard, LA. 14 grandchildren: Julian Dixon (Jade), Amanda Dixon, LaToya Walden Waiters (Brian), Eric Brooks, Jr., Erica Brooks, Kerrie Brooks, William “Alex” Miller, Wynnten Miller, Tori Houston, De’Andrea Nicole Hird Daniel Hird, Jr., Da’Ja Hird, Lea’Na Bailey, Nya Gibson, 32 Greatgrandchildren: Kalisha Clemons, Shalaysha, Jayla, Julia, Love and, Kevin Dixon, Amore McCobb, Tavarien and LaToria Dunbar, Tamya Mays, Devione, Dieonna, and Karesha Waiters, Eric Brooks, III, Marquez and, DeShari Simpson, Brandon Clark, Tremaine Brooks, Serenity Brown, Shayla, Shatoria, Tamya, Tor’Riah, and Azayah Houston, A’Rhiya and Kamille Bundrage, Taj, Logan and, Leila Cressie, Brene’ Dora, Brian, Jr., and Jasmine Waiters, 3great-great grandsons Jaqui Houston, Brelyn and Brysen Waiters1 brother: Benjamin Pate (Gloria), 2 sisters, Julia Pate, Beverly Cox, and 1 sister-in-law, Emma Whipper, Extended family: Regina Pate, Wilber Miller, Zena and Tonnja Pitts, Kimberly Joe, Kaniona Henry, Kane Wilson, and a host of family members and friends (too many to name them all) that loved her and will cherish her memories.

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