Cerina Fairfax, remembered by those that knew her as a devoted mother and caring dentist, was killed by her husband, former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, inside their Virginia residence this week, authorities mentioned.
Fairfax described herself as somebody who cherished “to read, run trails with her energetic Vizslas, practice Bikram yoga, travel, and spend time with her wonderful family.” She leaves behind an “enduring legacy of love and selflessness,” her legal professional mentioned.
A dentist who took pleasure in her work and cared for her sufferers
Fairfax was a beloved and achieved dentist, operating her personal thriving household dental apply, Dr. Fairfax & Associates Family Dentistry, serving the Fairfax, Virginia neighborhood.
She graduated with a Bachelor of Science diploma from Duke earlier than acquiring her Doctor of Dental Surgery diploma from Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Dentistry in 2005, graduating magna cum laude, according to her practice’s website.
Fairfax loved “all fields of dentistry” and centered on “conservative, comprehensive dentistry,” the web site says. Throughout her profession she obtained a number of honors and awards, together with the VCU School of Dentistry’s Alumni Association Award for Outstanding Graduate of the Last Decade for her many contributions to the career.
“As a clinician and alumna, Dr. Fairfax embodied the ideals of our profession—dedication to her patients, commitment to growth, and a deep sense of purpose in her work each day. I know she was a mentor, role model, and friend to many in our school,” a assertion from VCU School of Dentistry Interim Dean Jeffrey Johnson mentioned.
“Cerina really loved what she did, like she took pride in her work,” Terron Sims, a buddy and longtime affected person, told NCS affiliate WTVR. “Her profession was an extension of her love and care for people.”
“Dr. Fairfax considers it an honor and a privilege to serve the community of Fairfax, Virginia. She is committed to serving not only her patients but others as well through participation in community outreach programs,” her practice website states.
“We couldn’t believe it,” Janice Hildreth, a affected person who had been in Fairfax’s workplace simply days earlier than her homicide on Thursday, informed NCS. “She was such a lovely human being, such a warm and gentle person.”
Hildreth started seeing Fairfax after she and her husband moved to the realm a number of years in the past. She mentioned Fairfax’s apply was small however had a “very caring” workers. She was so happy with the physician’s care; she mentioned she referred a number of mates to her.
“It was just wonderful vibes in that whole office.”
A hands-on mother who as soon as constructed a zip line for her two children
“Above all else,” her divorce legal professional Amy Spain mentioned, Cerina was a “devoted mother to her beautiful children, who were the very center of her world.”
Fairfax “embodied the true meaning of motherhood through her unconditional and unwavering devotion to her children, providing a constant source of love, protection, and guidance,” Spain mentioned.
Erin Baylongo, a mother of 4 younger youngsters, who lived subsequent door to the Fairfax household for about 5 years, informed NCS what she noticed of Cerina Fairfax painted a image of a dedicated mother.
“Just seeing her interactions with her kids, the time spent in the backyard, all the time doing stuff (…) She just made a very welcoming backyard” for her youngsters, Baylongo mentioned.
Fairfax was an “active mom,” Baylongo mentioned, and “total DIY person” when it got here to constructing issues and organising actions for her two youngsters within the yard. She mentioned she watched Fairfax construct an aboveground pool for her youngsters within the yard, arrange a zipline equipment, and construct rooster coops.
Baylongo says she is “shocked” over the murder-suicide and mentioned, “I wish I would have gotten to know her more.”
The choose presiding over Fairfax’s divorce from her husband famous she had been “the primary caregiver for both children for almost the entirety of their lives, and in all respects,” based on the court docket order.
“Among other things, she is the planner, the scheduler, the caretaker, the cook, the disciplinarian, and the primary nurturer. She has performed all these roles while working part-time as a dentist in a dental practice she owns,” the choose wrote, calling her “a port in a storm for her children.”
“Their remarkable resilience and early success in life is down to what can best be described as Mother’s grit,” the choose added.
Sims shared Fairfax had began to plan faculty journeys for each of her youngsters.
“It is an absolute tragedy that Cerina was taken from her children and family,” Spain mentioned. “May her memory inspire all who knew her to honor her enduring legacy of love and selflessness, which she expressed most poignantly through motherhood.”
A second girl and spouse of almost 20 years
From 2018 to 2022, Cerina Fairfax balanced her work as a dentist and mother whereas serving as Virginia’s second girl throughout her husband Justin Fairfax’s tenure as lieutenant governor underneath Gov. Ralph Northam.
The couple met at Duke University and married in Arlington, Virginia, in 2006 earlier than welcoming their son in 2009 and daughter in 2011.
In 2019, two women accused Justin Fairfax, then lieutenant governor of Virginia, of sexual assault. Justin Fairfax repeatedly denied the allegations and referred to as for investigations into the accusations, saying he was “confident” it will clear his title.
NCS may discover no report of Cerina Fairfax talking publicly on the time concerning the allegations made in opposition to her husband, and she remained within the marriage.
The choose’s order within the couple’s current divorce proceedings described using troublesome language between the 2, together with Cerina Fairfax admitting to calling her husband an “idiot” and a “deadbeat.” The choose additionally famous “a flurry of slaps” in 2019 when Cerina allegedly “found out [Justin] was an adulterer,” the court docket order mentioned.
The two separated on June 1, 2024, whereas nonetheless residing in the identical home and entered a “post-nuptial agreement” on December 14, 2024, based on the submitting.
“There is no expectation or hope of reconciliation between the parties,” Cerina Fairfax’s divorce submitting acknowledged.
She alleged Justin “has not complied with the post-nuptial agreement in any form since its execution” and “does not make any financial contributions to support the Wife and their children,” the submitting mentioned.
Cerina Fairfax had requested the court docket to award joint authorized custody, with the kids primarily residing together with her whereas Justin Fairfax would have a visitation schedule, based on the submitting.