Virginia Kerr Morton died Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008, at her home. She was 61 years old.

A lifelong resident of Vicksburg, Mrs. Morton was born Dec. 3, 1946, and graduated from H.V. Cooper High School in 1964 and from Mississippi State University in 1968.

After a career of more than 33 years, she retired on Jan. 3, 2002, from the Mississippi Valley Division/Mississippi River Commission where she worked as a program analyst in the Planning Division, Comptroller’s Office and Programs Management Office.

During her government career, she was honored with the Mississippi Valley Division Woman of the Year Award, Ernest P. Blankenship Professional Award and Commander’s Award for Civilian Service, among many other performance and position awards. She was also an officer and active participant in the Mississippi Valley Division/Vicksburg District Federal Women’s Program.

Mrs. Morton was very active in community service, serving as a member of the Vicksburg Mayor’s Council on Business, the Municipal Election Commission and the Vicksburg Lions Club. She served as treasurer and in various chairmanship positions in the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary, as well as a longtime member on the Salvation Army Advisory Board. She was honored with several Salvation Army awards, including the 2007 Ann Allen Award for “Doing the Most Good.”

Mrs. Morton enthusiastically shared her love of Christ during her active membership and leadership in the Explorers Bible Study group for the past six years and her participation in the Prayer Shawl Ministry. Her main goal in life was serving her Lord and striving to lead others to Christ.

She was an active member of the Porters Chapel United Methodist Church and the Frances Hathorn Circle, while also participating in Christian events at the First Baptist and First Presbyterian churches and any other services or programs where she felt she could learn and grow in her loving and deep spirituality.

Mrs. Morton was preceded in death by her mother and father, Frances and George Kerr.

She is survived by her husband, Don Morton of Vicksburg; her brother, Dr. Larry Kerr and his wife, Dr. Jennifer Antrim of Scotts Valley, Calif., and nephews Carson and Ramsey Kerr and niece Gracie Kerr, all of Scotts Valley; one brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Dalton and Judy Fortenberry of Tallulah and nieces Suzanne Fortenberry of Indianapolis and Carrie Madge Higginbotham of Baton Rouge and nephews Robby Fortenberry of Tallulah and Clai Fortenberry of New York, N.Y.

A “Celebration of Her Life in Christ” memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 24, 2008, at Glenwood Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Dural Ragsdale of Porters Chapel United Methodist Church and James Hess of First Baptist Church officiating and reading Mrs. Morton’s pre-selected favorite scriptures and singing her favorite songs. Sheila Hess and Denise Ragsdale will play her favorite music. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the hour of the service.

Pallbearers will be Billy Bishop, Mark Hawkins, Sid Ponder and David Sessums. Honorary pallbearers will be John Byram, Buford Evans, John Showers and Dr. Tammy Young.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Porters Chapel United Methodist Church or its Frances Hathorn Circle, 200 Porters Chapel Road, Vicksburg, MS 39180; to Jacob’s Ladder Learning Center, 1017 Harrison St., Vicksburg, MS 39180; or to a favorite charity.