Mildred Fairfax received the 2024 SHERO Award from Church Women United in the Roanoke Valley during the organization’s meeting on December 6, 2024.
Ms. Fairfax, at the age of 96 years and 7 months, is still actively involved in Kingdom-building work through her church, Jerusalem Baptist Church in Roanoke. She has served in many capacities in her church and now holds the honor of being “the mother” and oldest member of the congregation.
Born in Marlinton, West Virginia, Ms. Fairfax worked at The Greenbrier after completing high school where she met her future husband, Russell. Together they reared four children. After her children were grown, Ms. Fairfax worked as a teacher’s aide for more than 20 years.
She remains very independent and continues to have a thirst for knowledge and life and still drives, prepares her own meals, and attends church every Sunday. While many folks who are younger than her are afraid of Zoom and do not text, she was determined to learn to use both of these technologies to keep up with her family and friends. Her motto is “If someone else can do it, so can I!”
In presenting the award, CWU Past President Barbara Pendergrass Richmond expressed the organization’s gratitude for Ms. Fairfax’s willingness to continue to give of her time, energy, and gifts to enhance the lives of the people and community where she lives and thanked her for being an example for all of us.
The SHERO Award is presented annually to an outstanding woman over the age of 90.
