Virginia Smith Hatley Schillinger

1935 - 2024

Virginia Smith Hatley Schillinger, 89, passed away peacefully on December 30 at the Jordan River Health Facility in Collierville. She was born at home on June 10, 1935, to Mary Catherine and Benjamin Winston Smith, in Malden, MO, the fourth of nine children.

The family would settle in Humboldt, TN. It was the later births of her brothers, Jimmy, Tommy and Jerry that tasked her with the daily care of toddlers. It was a daunting responsibility for a teenager, but one well worth it from the stories that are now family lore.

After graduating from Humboldt High School, she made her way to Memphis and worked for a number of insurance companies, but found her true calling when she went to work for American Airlines in its air freight department. She worked 10 years before being laid off due to the energy crisis in 1973.

It wasn't long before a little-known startup company, Federal Express, called her. It took three calls before she accepted a customer service position in 1974. Back then, only five employees comprised the entire department, and they worked on folding banquet tables and folding chairs in a very tired building known as Hangar Six. It was here where Virginia, employee #1955, answered customer calls and tracked packages, despite the noise coming from Flight Operations, where the Dassault Falcons with their jet engines, were coming in for maintenance.

Virginia would dedicate all her years at FedEx to Customer Service, with most of them in management at the Memphis Call Center.

In 1982, however, she accepted a six-month special assignment as Executive Director of the FedEx Pavilion at the World's Fair in Knoxville.

Virginia retired from FedEx in 1997, and while FedEx didn't define her life, she was greatly admired by many there: "She was an integral part of the early days of FedEx and its success."

In her early years, Virginia attended Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, where her daughters attended high school. In later years, she was a faithful parishioner of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Germantown. There, she was active in Bible Study and the Ladies Guild. Throughout her long life, Virginia was a kind and wonderful example of Catholic love and faith.

In 2012, she wrote and published, "Remember When," a book chronicling the Smith family history. She ended it with a special clause encouraging all the younger Smiths to "finish the story." This book is coveted now more than ever and is a tribute to Virginia and her desire to ensure the entire Smith family knows the history.

Virginia is predeceased by her husband, Ronald Paul Schillinger, who died in 2022. She also leaves two daughters, Donna Hatley Glenn and Vicki Hatley McLaughlin of Eads, along with her beloved sons-in-law, Mike Glenn and Ted McLaughlin, and a stepson, Ronnie Schillinger of Rossville.

When asked what she was the proudest of, Virginia said, "Raising my two daughters is the best thing I ever did, and it is what gives me the most pride."

Her five grandchildren loved their "Nana," and Hatley Victoria Glenn, Tucker Simpson Glenn, Katherine Glenn Hodges (Jonathan), Winston Brode' McLaughlin (Katie) and Eleanor Crump "Ella" McLaughlin (Ryan Glosson) were precious to her. She was also blessed to have two great grandchildren: Myles Crump Glosson and Blair Olivia Hodges, with another great granddaughter due next July.

Virginia is predeceased by three brothers: Benjamin Winston Smith, Thomas L. Smith, and Jerry L. Smith, and three sisters: Mary Anna Smith Coleman, Patricia Smith Stallings, and Kay Smith Boyd. She is survived by brothers James W. Smith (Lucy) and Harold L. Smith (Marilou) of Memphis, as well as sisters-in-law Linda Fuller Smith and Ann Nabholz Smith. There are also many nieces and nephews who loved their "Aunt Eddie" -- Jody, Randy, Gina, Lisa, Tracey, Lori, Tommy, Stephen, Mark, Jennifer, Meredith, Sarah, Jerry, Kelly, Julie, Holli, and Cathy.

Virginia's life will be celebrated on Monday, January 6, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 1695 Central Ave., with Father Andrew Raffanti officiating. Visitation in the Cathedral is 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. with the Funeral Mass to follow at 2:30 p.m. A reception will follow in Marian Hall at 3:30 p.m.

The family would like to extend special gratitude to Stevie, Ange, Darvonna, Ashley, Suzanne, Shawanna, Que, Amy, and Jessica of the Farms of Bailey Station Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing staff for the loving and attentive care of Virginia in her final days.

If you wish to remember Virginia with a memorial, please consider Madonna Learning Center, 7007 Poplar Ave., Germantown, TN, 38138, where her first grandchild, Hatley, attended school.