Mrs. Virginia Dell Bartee

A Legacy of Love
Virginia Dell Crowther Bartee, 72, was born on January 4, 1950, in Columbia, Mississippi. She was the fourth child born to the late Mr. Otha William (O. W.) Crowther, Sr. and Mrs. Julia Jane James Crowther. From her loving parents, she learned the importance of family and community and the value of faith and education. Those lessons sharped the woman she would become and the life of service she would lead. Foundation of Love
Virginia married Tobey Lee Bartee on April 29, 1972, and spent nearly fifty-one years creating a life and home filled with love. To this union, four children were born: Jacqueline, Tanya, Tobey, and Kevin (Tamika, granddaughter Taylor). Virginia loved her family and friends selflessly. She was a devoted wife, and a loving mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, niece, cousin, and friend. Love of Family
Virginia was raised in a family with strong Christian values. She accepted Christ as her personal Savior at a young age, and she strengthened her spiritual foundation as a member of Hub Chapel United Methodist Church. She would later join St. Peter Baptist Church in Pascagoula, MS, and
continue to serve the Lord as a Sunday School teacher, missions president, member of the ladies' auxiliary, and Deaconess. Over the years, she volunteered both her time and resources at church and local charities. Love of Christ
Virginia graduated from East Marion High School in Columbia, MS, in 1968, and pursued study in the field of education at Mississippi Valley State College (now Mississippi Valley State University) in Itta Bena, MS. Following graduation, she taught first and second grade students for twenty-nine years at St. Martin East Elementary in Ocean Springs, MS. She knew the power of education and saw teaching not only as a profession, but also as a calling. Love of Education
Virginia's precious memories will be cherished by her husband, Tobey Lee Bartee of Gautier, MS; two daughters: Jacqueline and Tanya, both of Gautier, MS; two sons: Tobey of Memphis, TN, and Kevin (Tamika) of Orlando, FL; and one granddaughter: Taylor Bartee of Orlando, FL.
Virginia will be remembered by her siblings, six sisters: Mollie (Lee) Lampley of Chicago, IL; Bertha Akins of St. Louis, MO; Louise Crowther of Gautier, MS; Corita Fields of Greenwood, MS; Juanita (Marvin) Durham of Greenwood, MS; and Julie (Willie) Walker of Lumberton, TX; and one brother: Artis (Gail) Crowther of Gautier, MS; one aunt: Alice Crowther of Columbia, MS; three brother in-laws: Emmit Bartee of Quitman, MS; Rev. Joseph (Webster) Bartee of Jackson, MS; Rev. Arthur Lewis (Cynthia) Bartee of Waynesboro, MS; three sisters-in-laws: Dorothy Jean Bartee, Dorothy Juanita Bartee, and Julie Mae Bartee, all of Quitman, MS. She also leaves to cherish her a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, and friends.
Virginia was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. O. W. Crowther; three brothers: Robert, Otha, and Raleigh Crowther; one sister, Willietta (Houston, deceased) Smith; father and mother-in-law: Mr. Emmit James and Mrs. Susie Mae Bartee; four sisters-in-law: Betty Bartee,
Josephine Bartee Osby, Mary Ann Bartee, and Mary Bartee; and two brothers-in-law: Henry Bartee and Howard Bartee, Sr.