Mabel Delphia Hairston

December 7, 1922 - December 16, 2021

Mabel Delphia Hairston, 99, of Manassas, Virginia, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 16, 2021, at her home surrounded by her closest family. She was born in Martinsville, Virginia, on December 7, 1922, to the late Gus Hairston and Philadelphia Hairston Hairston. She was employed as a Nanny her entire working career and attended Bluefield StateCollege. Mabel was a member of Grace Presbyterian Church all her life and served as a member of the Women’s Circle. She was also civic-minded, breaking through the horrors of JimCrow to earn the right to vote in her hometown of Martinsville. She went on to vote in every Presidential election since 1944 and spent many years as a poll volunteer. Mabel enjoyed cooking, decorating, fashion, good music, classic poetry, and entertaining her family and friendsin her impeccably decorated home. She also had a treasured collection of ceramic and glass shoes. Mabel was a true renaissance woman with irrefutable style and grace, but nothing was more important to her than loving, nurturing, and protecting other children, especially her nieces and nephews. She was a fierce defender of the underdog and was known to take in her neighbors, friends, and community members, always offering them a good meal, great conversation, and, most important, love, acceptance, and security. Known as “Mae-Mae” to some and “Mama” to others, she spent her life sacrificing for and ensuring that everyone she encountered felt loved, worthy, and enough. Her classic greeting was, “Heyyy Doll!”. If a person heard this, they knew they were safe, had a listening ear, and would leave feeling better than when they came. Without a doubt, Mabel was a giver to all, but the apples of her eye were her three girls. Everyone who knew Mabel, understood that one could not see Mabel without one or all of her crew–Rita, Missy, and Julia. They were inseparable. Though she never birthed her own children, she was the Mother of all Mothers. She taught her three girls that Mother is truly a verb. She wasn’t an Aunt to her Rita, Missy,and Julia. She was a mother and grandmother. She was Everything. One of her favorite songs was “The Wind Beneath My Wings.” She adoredthe lyrics and thought of her mom, siblings, and all the ones who influenced her. She never knew, though, that the song epitomized her existence and influence on others. She was, in fact,the “wind beneath the wings” to all she encountered, especially her three girls. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her sister, Ruth Hairston Strawn; brothers, John Early Hairston, Gus Hairston, Calbert Hairston, and George Hairston; and beloved niece, Rita Strawn Agnew. Mabel is survived by her beloved nieces and nephews, Melissa Agnew Alexander (Joseph), Julia Alexander, James Strawn (Linda), Barbara Williams, Mabel Hairston, Philomena Walker-Keller, Renita Stultz, Melvina Eaton, and Calbert Hairston. She is also survived by a host of great-nieces, great-nephews, extended family, and friends. The graveside service will be Tuesday, December 21, 2021, at 11:00 AM at Carver Memorial Gardens. A floating visitation will be Monday, December 20, 2021 from 12:00-6:00pm at Wright Funeral Service. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, 1333 South Mayflower Avenue, Suite 400, Monrovia, California 91016, or your favorite childhood cancer charity. Wright Funeral Service and Crematory is serving the family. Online condolences may be made at www.wrightfuneralservices.net