Jerenza Fairman was born to Reverend J.W. and Luberta Holmes Fairman on August 20, 1954 in Cleveland, Mississippi.  He was the seventh of eight children.  "Jerry", as he was affectionately called, accepted Jesus Christ at an early age.  He graduated from Cleveland High School in 1973.  He attended Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bena, Mississippi and transferred to Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas.

While living in Houston, Jerry became a property manager at an apartment complex.  He later relocated to Chicago, Illinois.  While in Chicago, he met Pamela Burns, a fellow Mississippian, in 1979.  In 1980, Jerry became a resident counselor at the Illinois Department of Corrections-Inner City Community Correctional Facility.

Jerry eventually relocated back to Cleveland, Mississippi in 1981.  On December 25, 1983, Jerry and Pamela were married and to this union, 2 daughters were born.  Pamela preceded Jerry in death on March 21, 2020.

Jerry had a big personality and was well-known in the community.  He believed in doing things his way.  He was unafraid of moving and traveling.  Jerry loved fishing, his friends and his family.

On March 20, 2024, at 3:38 p.m., at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center in Jackson, MS, God called Jerry to his eternal rest.

He was also preceded in death by his parents, Reverend J.W. Fairman and Luberta Holmes Fairman.  Siblings:  Dorothy Mae Bullocks, Aretha McGhee, Cleo Houzz, Andrew Fairman, Rachel Adams, Patricia Baxter, Irma Parker, and Walter Lee Fairman.

Jerry leaves to cherish memories: One son, Rayford Harris of Memphis, TN; three daughters, Myoshi Hicks of St. Petersburg, FL, Jovita Roberts (Artez) of Riverview, FL, and Jeri Burns of Atlanta, GA; two brothers, J.W. Fairman, Jr. (Pamela) of Orland Park, IL, John Fairman, Sr. of Cleveland, MS; two sisters, Lucille Quinones of St. Louis, MO and Dr. Alice Fairman Daniels (Jimmy) of Burr Ridge, IL; six grandchildren, Rayford Jr., Ja'Quayla, Torin, Joshua, A'lijah and Victoria; four great grandchildren, Josiah, Dakota-Joseph, Erykah, Lyrik and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.