LYNCHBURG, Va. — Memorial services for Irma Jean Wilson Seiferth, of Lynchburg, Va., formerly of Natchez, who died Sunday, March 15, 2009, will be 2 p.m. Saturday at the Lynchburg High Apartments, 1301 Park Ave., in Lynchburg.
Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory is assisting the family, 220 Breezewood Drive, Lynchburg, Va.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Mrs. Seiferth was born in Natchez, the daughter of Rossetta Stewart. Her elementary through high school years in Natchez were split between private and public schools. As a teenager she worked as a pianist for several church choirs. After high school, Irma married her “kindergarten sweetheart,” Jesse Seiferth and became an army wife and the mother of two daughters.
Upon leaving the military, Jesse enrolled at Tougaloo College and Irma supported the family by working in the Natchez public school system and, again, as a pianist. When his studies were completed, Jesse was recruited by Cummins Engine Company of Columbus, Ind., where Irma also obtained employment. She held positions as a corporate receptionist and a corporate secretary. Later, Irma attained her higher education from Indiana and Perdue Universities, which launched her professional career at Cummins. She held positions in the commercial research department and in personnel administration, which led to her becoming a wage and salary analyst evaluating shop and office hourly jobs. In 1972, Irma was promoted to College Relations Manger, responsible for all college recruiting, the cooperative education program (undergraduate level), college part-time hires, and the summer intern program.
In early 1974, Jesse was recruited by the General Electric Company in Lynchburg. After arriving, Irma and Jesse discovered they had friends at Cummins who were friends of a family in Lynchburg and through them met Herb and Shirley Moore. Near the end of the summer of 1974, Herb, who was the executive director of the Lynchburg Covenant Fellowship, invited Irma to come to work for Lynchburg Covenant Fellowship. In 1993, when Herb retired, Irma became Lynchburg Covenant Fellowship’s executive director.
Through the years, Irma was involved in many community activities. She participated in Mississippi Baptist State conventions, was a member of the Columbus Human Rights Commission, the Indiana Personnel Association, board member of the William R. Laws Negro Scholarship Foundation, a member of the Young Democrats, the Cooperative Education Association, the Lynchburg Voters League, the League of Women Voters, board member of Centra Health, member and past board member of the Elizabeth Early Learning Center, board member of the Greater Lynchburg Community Trust, president for over 21 years of the STEP with Links, Inc., former member and president of the Lynchburg Chapter of The Links, Inc., former Eastern Area Director of Services to Youth for The Links, Inc., board member of Family Services (Alliance for Families and Children), and former member and officer of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities. Other interests include music, art, bridge, antiques and stamp collecting; noteworthy also is her creation of the Link’s fundraising project, “Men Who Cook.” On a more personal note, Irma loved cooking and hosting fabulous parties, to the delight of her family, friends and co-workers.
In addition to her mother and her husband of 49 years, Irma is survived by two daughters, Karen Seiferth Hicks of Richmond, Va., and Gina Seiferth St. John of Burbank, Calif.; two grandchildren, Meaghan Bryce Henson and Taylor Austin Henson; one great-grandchild, Alivia Bryce Henson; one brother, Larnell Franklin; one sister-in-law, Forrestine Seiferth Barnes and husband, Bernis, both of Silver Spring, Md.; and a number of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, other relatives and a tremendous number of friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family ask that donations be made to the Lynchburg Covenant Fellowship, 412 Madison St., P.O. Box 6016, Lynchburg, VA 24505.