Virginia Ann Jeffries Gipson of Little Rock, Arkansas, was born November 21, 1943, the second child of Andrew and Helen Jeffries. Growing up in Little Rock, Virginia was very active in youth organizations and activities in the community and her church. She attended Gibbs Elementary School, Dunbar Jr. High School, then she attended and graduated from Horace Mann High School in 1961. Thereafter, she attended Philander Smith College and graduated with a BA degree in education. As a student at Philander Smith College, she became involved in many campus-based activities and was initiated into the Gamma Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. After her Undergraduate Studies, she received her Masters Degree and her +45 at Trevecca Nazarene University.

After her college years, she relocated to St. Louis, Missouri, and taught high school for years. She later married Dr. Samuel D. Gipson in 1972, moved to Tennessee, and started a beautiful family soon after.

Virginia then started her teaching journey in Tennessee with Memphis City Schools. Throughout her tenure, she touched, impacted, and left a lasting impression on thousands of students! She taught at Colonial Middle, Whitehaven High School, White Station High School, Hamilton High School, and East High School, where she taught until she retired. While teaching at East High School, she sponsored the Student Government Association, The Annual Mr. and Mrs. East Pageant, and established the East High School chapter of Close Up, a program to educate and encourage young people to participate in their civic affairs and government. She and her students participated in “Close Up Washington” and “Close Up Hawaii”.

Virginia was a very active member in her church home, Annesdale Cherokee Missionary Baptist Church. She always pioneered the Black History Program and spearheaded many activities with the Youth & Young Adults.

Virginia was preceded in death by her parents, Andrew and Helen Jeffries; her husband, Dr. Samuel D. Gipson, DDS; her brothers, Andrew Jeffries Jr. and Bobby Joe Jeffries; and her sisters, Sherri Lynn Johnson and Gloria Jean Jeffries.

She leaves to cherish her loving memory: her daughters, Kristyl (Yusuf) Sharif and Nicole Gipson (Alvin Fitzgerald); four grandchildren, Yusuf ‘Adam’ Sharif, Leila Jewel Sharif, Alvin L. Fitzgerald II ‘Chip’, and Samantha Harriette Fitzgerald; one brother, Danny Ray Jeffries; two sisters, Belynda Jeffries and Helen T. Jeffries; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, god-children, and many more that she loved!

The family will receive friends Friday, July 22, 2022 from 4:00pm-6:00pm at RS Lewis & Sons 2944 Walnut Grove Rd. Funeral service will be Saturday, July 23, 2022 11:00am at Annesdale Cherokee Missionary Baptist Church 2960 Kimball Ave

Internment will be in Forest Hill Midtown 1661 Elvis Presley Blvd