OMAR, W.Va. — Willa Mae “Kizzie” Major, 90, of Omar, passed away Tuesday night, February 5, 2013, at Logan Regional Medical Center.
Born February 20, 1922, at Bassett, Va., she was a daughter of the late Ernest and Sylvia Hairston. Willa was dedicated to God, her loving family, and friends. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband of 60 years, James E. Major Sr.; two grandsons, Douglas Montgomery II and Douglas “Baby Doug” Montgomery Jr.; three sisters, Helen Watkins, Rosie Hairston and Anna “Fozzie” Nelms, and four brothers, Russell V. Fultz, Jess J. Hairston, Frank C. Hairston, and William “Bill” Hairston.
Willa Mae, or Kizzie as she was fondly known, moved with her family from Bassett to Omar, when she was 6-years-old. She graduated from Aracoma High School, where she won a scholarship in Drama. She was a child of God, last attending Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church as a deaconess until her illness. She was an outstanding housewife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend.
Willa leaves cherished memories to one son, James E. (Nancy) Major Jr. of Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; her loving daughter whom she resided with until the last 2 and one-half years, Joan T. (Michael) Hairston of Omar; two grandchildren, Lee H. (Melissa) Major of Fort Walton Beach, and Amy M. Hairston of Cross Lanes; three great-grandchildren, Austin R. Hicks, Chloe A. Montgomery and Aaron M. Major; one great-great-grandchild, Khavion Montgomery; two sisters, Elizabeth J. Scruggs of Toledo, Ohio and Rosalie Graham of Georgia; one sister-in-law and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Services are planned for Sunday, February 10, at 1 p.m. with visitation planned to begin at noon at the Omar Glorious Church of God, Superior Bottom, Omar. Interment will be at Guyan Memorial Gardens.
Gregory Funeral Home of Welch is in charge of arrangements.
Sending our condolences to you at this time, you mother was a beautiful lady inside & out, she always had a smile on her face, never met a stranger, always had a nice word to say. I was honored to know her, she will be missed by all who knew her, I know she is with my mom, your dad, and all her loved ones, they are talking with God and waiting for all of us one day. I hope this poem will give you some comfort:
A Mother Gone
Gone is a mother loved by all,
Her soul is now at rest.
She'll sleep in peace her work is done.
A mothers work is the best.
She'll know the joy of perfect rest
In heaven up above,
Where she may dwell contentedly
Protected by God's love.
Our hearts may grieve that she must lie
Beneath the sacred sod,
And yet we know that she lives in peace
Within the house of God.