Virdell D. Moore

Virdell D. Moore was born on July 14, 1942, to the late Estelle Smith in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A woman of deep and abiding faith, she was baptized at an early age and remained a faithful servant of the Lord throughout her life. She graduated from the Philadelphia public school system in 1960 and soon after welcomed her only son, the late Johnnie Beeks-Moore, on June 23, 1960.

Virdell worked from a young age, first as a chef in culinary arts and as a licensed beautician. She went on to devote thirty-two years to the medical field as a home health aide with Care at Home/VNA LLC, where she cared for numerous patients with compassion and dignity. Her greatest passion was caring for the elderly and disabled, a commitment she lived out by lovingly tending to her own mother, “Big Momma” Estelle, and her son Johnnie until each was called home.

Known affectionately as “Pie” to her sister Karen and family because of her love for baking and eating pies, Virdell found joy in cooking, bowling, crocheting, shopping, swimming, and going to the movies. Her favorite pastime was feeding and caring for animals; over the years she raised several dogs and cats in her home. A resident of Orange, New Jersey since 2008, she lived at Oakwood Towers and was a devoted member of Saint Matthews AME Church.

Virdell D. Moore passed away on March 5, 2026. She is now reunited in the House of the Lord with her mother Estelle Smith, her son Johnnie Beeks-Moore, her grandson Justin Grisham, her godmother Genevieve Newkirk, and her nephew Jason T. Newkirk Sr. She leaves to cherish her memory her grandson Johnny Williams, her granddaughter Julise Grisham, her cousin Joanne Williams, her god sisters Karen Newkirk, Beverly Ashmon, Patricia Newkirk-Wilson, and Patricia Hogans, her nephews Vincent Loomis Jr., Lamar Carter Sr., and Roderick Chavis II, her niece Rhonda Carter, and her great-grandchildren Zayvion, Nevay, Bre’lyn, Amire, Jah’nae, Kayden, and Ari, along with a host of cousins, great-nieces, great-nephews, family, and friends.