Virginia Louise North

Virginia Louise Marshall North

Virginia Louise Marshall North, 95, died peacefully on Saturday, September 18, 2010, at the Laurels Nursing Home with family present.

A Charlottesville native, born June 8, 1915, she is survived by her two loving sons, James "Jim" and Ronald, to whom she had been both mother and father since the passing of her husband, Aubrey Floyd North in July 1951. As both a devoted mother and devout Christian, God saw that she needed rest and cradled her gently in his loving arms and took her quietly to her heavenly home after allowing her time to say goodbye to her family and friends.

Among those she leaves behind to cherish her life on earth and remember her wisdom and strengths are her son, James Winston North and his wife, Shirley Gentry North; her son, Ronald Aubrey North and his fiancee, Sandra Morris; her grandson, Jimmy North and his wife, Mary Meadows North; her grandson, Dain Aubrey North and his fiancee, Bianca Villamar; her grandson, Ronald Aubrey North Jr. and her grandson, William Morris. She also leaves behind three great- grandsons, Corey James North, Kyle Robert North, and Jacob Morris. She is also survived by one younger sister, Lottie Buck, formerly of Charlottesville, but now residing with her daughter in Virginia Beach; and a sister-in-law, Margaret Marshall of Scottsville, Virginia.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert Lee Marshall and Cecil Phillips Marshall; brothers, Virgil, Tom, George and Willy Marshall; sisters, Viola Pritchett, Eva Brectsnider, and Blanche Cook.

Known to many as Virginia and to many as Louise, she will be remembered for her absolute love and devotion to her family and her unwavering faith in God as her lord and Savior. She was baptized in 1943 at the First Baptist Church on East High Street. A long-time member of Belmont Baptist Church, a founding member of Northside Baptist Church, and later the oldest member of Laurel Hills Baptist Church, she could always be counted on to lend a kind word or say a word of prayer for others in need. She remained active in church activities for 94 years, and her church family continued to visit her both at Park View and at the Laurels and always left inspired by her unwavering faith in God and her quiet dignity and strength.

An energetic and strong-willed lady, Virginia remained active and healthy for over 94 of her 95 years. She made her home with James and Shirley from 1980 until 2006 until her move to Park View. While with James and Shirley, she enjoyed traveling, camping, fishing, and ball games with her family. She had an infectious laugh and was loved and admired by everyone with whom she came in contact. A nurse at the Laurels captured her spirit best when she said, "The Lord is getting a good one."

She worked hard to single-handedly support herself and her two sons, ironing, production work, sales work, and ultimately retiring from the Charlottesville Schools cafeteria. Her other activities included Eastern Star, Order of the White Shrine and a life member of the Miller School Alumni Association.

Her family would like to thank Dr. Bruce Campbell and his staff for the wonderful care they provided her over the last many years. Thanks, also, to Dr. Jonathan Evans and the staff at the Laurels; and Pastor Bruce Goldsmith of Laurel Hills Baptist Church.

The family will receive friends at Hill and Wood Funeral Home from 6 until l 8 p.m. on Tuesday September 21, 2010.

The funeral service will be held 1 p.m. Wednesday, September 22, 2010, at her beloved Laurel Hills Baptist Church on Airport Road. Interment will follow at Monticello Memory Gardens.

The family welcomes flowers or a donation to one of the following organizations, American Diabetes Association. P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312, Laurel Hills Baptist Church, P.O. Box 457, Earlysville, VA 22936 or Alumni Association of Miller School, P. O. Box 6995, Charlottesville, VA 22906

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.hillandwood.com.


This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.