Virginia Lois Rester

Mrs. Virginia Winborn Rester, age 88, of Gulfport, died Sunday, January 7, 2007 in Gulfport. Mrs. Rester was born October 15, 1918 in Ashland, Ms. After completing high school in Ashland and Junior College in Holly Springs, she began her professional career with the Department of Agriculure in Hernando. Moving to Jackson, she worked at the Ordinance Plant in Flora and transferred to Gulfport Army Airfield in June, 1942 and then to Keesler Air Force Base in 1946. She worked in Personnel Management in the Civilian Personnel Office and retired as Supervisory Personnel Management Specialist in 1973 with 33 years of service. On August 17, 1963 she became a wife, mother, and grandmother when she married J. M. "Monroe" Rester. She has been an active member of the First United Methodist Church since 1942. She worked with the youth and children for a number of years and in 1972 she joined the Wesleyan Service Guild, which became the United Methodist Women , First United Methodist Church of Gulfport where she held a number of leadership positions on all levels. She served as Unit President 1977-1978, Seashore District Christian Global Concerns Coordinator 1979-1980, president of Seashore District 1982-1984, and Unit UMW President 1987-1988. The " Monday Night Group" of the UMW changed their name to the "Virginia Rester UMW Circle" in honor of Virginia. Her dedication was an example to all United Methodist Women. In addition to her dedication to her church activities, she and her sister, Frances Ormon, enjoyed traveling and visited Hawaii, Alaska, Mexico, Canada, Spain, France, Norway, Sweden, England, Russia and other places. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Monroe Rester; three brothers, Hiram Winborn, Kimble Winborn, Ralph Winborn, and two sisters, Ruth Michael and Frances Ormon. Mrs. Rester is survived by her children, Marilyn Adams of Houston, Texas, Jim Rester of Santa Rosa, FL, and John Rester, of Gulfport, MS; four grandchildren; two great- grandchildren; and one great-great- grandchild; a niece, Elizabeth Thayer of Gulfport; a nephew, Jimmy Ormon of Starkville and numerous other nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held Tuesday, January 9, 2007 from 4 until 7 p.m. at Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, O'Neal Road, Gulfport. The service will be Wednesday, January 10, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Gulfport where friends may visit one hour before the service. Interment will follow at Floral Hills Memorial Gardens in Gulfport. The family prefers memorials to the First United Methodist Church, 2301 15th Street, Gulfport, MS. 39501.