Victoria Salem passed away at her home surrounded by her family on August 2, 2021 at the age of 97. Victoria came to America as an infant with her parents, Elias Michael Habeeb and Marianna Mafrige from Bechmizzine, Lebanon in 1924. The journey by ship took one month. After landing in Rhode Island, they travelled by train to Vicksburg, Mississippi where her father had a grocery business. Vicksburg became an enclave for many Lebanese immigrants at this time, who started many businesses and founded St. George Orthodox Church. Her sense of family and community and spirituality was always all around her. She attended Carr Central High School and later Louisiana State University, receiving a business degree. She married Johnny George Moses in 1947, who sadly passed away in 1948 leaving her widowed with an infant baby girl - whom she named Johnnie Carole Robertson. In 1957, she re-married Dr. Samuel Salem of Dallas, Texas and subsequently moved to Dallas, which became her home until his death in 1982. At the time of her death, she was living with her two daughters and son-in-law in Lucas, Texas, with her two grandsons and their families close by.
She was an avid reader, artist, and enjoyed cooking and sewing. She crocheted numerous baby blankets to give as gifts to family friends. In her later life, she became a certified organic gardener and was a member of the Dirt Doctor Ground Crew. She was a woman of extraordinary intellect and spirituality to all who knew her. She cherished with her “whole heart” her grandchildren. Her spirit will live on through them. She taught us all what love is and believed it was more blessed to give than to receive.
Her favorite motto was: “Any good that I can do today - let me do it - I will never pass this way again.”
She is survived by her daughters Mary Salem, Johnnie Carole Robertson and husband, Marion Robertson, Jr., both of Lucas, Texas; her two grandsons, Dr. Michael Robertson and wife, Sarai of Wylie, Texas and Dr. John Robertson and wife, Julie of Frisco, Texas; great-grandchildren, Austin, David, and Elizabeth and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was known as “Siti” by her grandchildren.
Her life has been a gift to all, which we can never return in-kind. We thank God everyday for giving her to all of us, her family. She loves so completely, and she is loved so completely. We will remember and treasure the image of her joy in cooking, using her hands, wrinkled over time, preparing kibbi, stuffed squash, cornbread dressing and other Lebanese dishes - her hands blessing her dishes with the sign of the cross.
A private family funeral service will be held at Turrentine Jackson Morrow funeral home in Allen, Texas for immediate family only.
Please donate memorial contributions in Victoria’s honor to St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, her favorite charity.