Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Our Heavenly Father called into eternal rest, the life of Steve Russell Fitzgerald Friday, May 26, 2023. 

Steve Russell Fitzgerald was born to the late Ralph E. Fitzgerald Sr. and Lin J. Fitzgerald on February 13, 1955. He attended Petersburg High School and graduated with the Class of 1973. In January 1975, Steve joined the U.S. Air Force. During his honorable career, he enjoyed his duty assignments traveling around the world and experiencing new cultures while serving his country. His honorable career spanned over 23 and a half years before retiring in July 1998 at the rank of master sergeant. Upon retirement from the military, Steve began another stellar career working as a contractor. He continued to serve our nation by working for the United States government in several capacities, ultimately retiring as a civil servant from the U.S. Agency for International Development in Washington, D.C. as a senior training specialist in 2013.

Steve’s formal educational pursuits included a bachelor’s degree in corporate training from Abilene Christian University and a master of science in administration degree from Central Michigan University. He was a devoted member and licensed associate minister of Little Mount Zion Baptist Church in Suffolk.  Steve enjoyed his family, friends and spending time with his grandchildren. He was a huge sports fan and loved attending his oldest grandson’s football games and cheering him on. Most importantly, he was the Dallas Cowboys’ number-one fan and loved watching them play.

Steve was preceded in death by his father, Ralph E. Fitzgerald Sr.; mother, Lin J. Fitzgerald; sisters, Patricia, Barbara, Shirley and Iris; and brothers, Linwood, Horace, Joseph, Glen, Stanley and Alonzo.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 28 years, JoAnn Reid-Fitzgerald of Suffolk; daughter, Danyiele Fitzgerald Peterson (Thurman) of Virginia Beach; sons, Steve R. Fitzgerald II (Kieshea) of Burlington, New Jersey, and Keith R. Fitzgerald (Kissina) of Greensboro, North Carolina; grandchildren, Brandon Peterson, Grant Fitzgerald and Carter Fitzgerald; sister, Argie M. Williamson (Johnny) of Flint, Michigan; brothers, Jesse L. Fitzgerald of Winter Park, Flordia, and Ralph E. Fitzgerald of Petersburg; sister-in-law, Mildred Fitzgerald of Dinwiddie; special niece, RiQueshia L. Harris of Rocky Mount, North Carolina; and a host of nieces, nephews and many other relatives and friends that were all dear to him.  

Services are at 2 p.m., Sunday, June 4, at Little Mount Zion Baptist Church, 3288 Pruden Blvd. with the Rev. Horace Bazemore, pastor and officiating. The interment is at 3 p.m., Tuesday, June 6, at the Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery.