Our Dear and Beloved, Mary Etta Frazier Kirby peacefully passed away at her home surrounded by family members, on Thursday, January 18, 2024.

She was born to the late Annie B. Frazier in Greenwood, South Carolina, on March 30, 1930. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert "Bill" Kirby; a daughter, Sandra Frazier Stewart; and most recently by a son, Wesley Frazier, who passed on November 19, 2023.

She attended the public schools of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County and was a member of the 1948 graduation class of Atkins High School.

Following high school graduation, she went to work at Wake Forest University Baptist Hospital (Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist). She was a Certified Nursing Assistant I, for many years. She later furthered her training and became Certified as a Nursing Assistant II. She retired from the hospital twice and following her second retirement, she remained "on call" and was eager to serve whenever and wherever her service was needed.

Mrs. Kirby left a legacy of the love, people, sports, and family but more importantly she left the love of Christ. She visited and worshipped at Mt. Mariah Outreach Center where Bishop Todd L. Fulton is the senior pastor. And she frequently attended the AME Zion churches where The Reverend Louis Hunter, Jr. was pastor.

She was known as and affectionately called "Fam Ma" by her children, grandchildren and all of her extended children. She always had a word of encouragement and often shared a lesson for life with them. Fam Ma worked hard and sacrificed her time and resources so that her children and grandchildren could attend college. The sum of a person is not measured by the number of educational degrees one has but by the impact their life has left on the life of others. She made a positive impact on many lives.

If you wanted to bring a smile to Fam Ma's face, talk sports. She was an avid sports fan. She loved Wake Forest University and Winston-State State University Football Teams. She loved, loved, loved The Atlanta Braves and made several trips to Atlanta to see them play.

Fam Ma is survived by a daughter, Patricia A. Hunter; a son, Michael (Vernell) Kirby of South Carolina; her grandchildren, Monica (Courtland) Frazier, Selena Stewart of Charlotte, North Carolina, Janae and Jordan Hunter of the home, Donnell Credle of Leesburg, Florida and Lechey Dawson of St. Stephens, South Carolina; a daughter-in-law, Carol Frazier; many nieces, nephews and cousins who called and checked on her often, including Rhonda Fairley of Georgia and Natasha Williams and Doris Jones; The Frazier Klan in Stuart, Virginia and Westfield, North Carolina; The Fultons; her devoted friends, Mrs. Laura Kennedy and Ms. Frances Stanback of Winston Salem, North Carolina; several extended relatives and friends, and the North Hills Community Family which she loved and cherished.

The unspeakable joy that awaits Fam Ma in heaven is the hope and a promise kept as she is now reunited with her husband, her daughter and her son in eternity.

A viewing will be held from 1:00pm until 5:00pm Tuesday, January 23, 2024 at Russell Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00noon Wednesday, January 24, 2024 at the Russell Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in Piedmont Memorial Gardens. The family visitation will be held from 11:30am until 12:00noon on Wednesday at the Chapel.