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Virginia ROLLINGS Obituary
Born in Claremont, Va., on Feb. 20, 1921, to Alfred Lafayette Horsfall and Matilda Augusta Kropfganz, Virginia was a tireless community volunteer and a prominent area historian.
Virginia graduated from Claremont High School in 1938 and attended a semester at the Blackstone Teacher's College, eventually earning her degree in Sociology from Christopher Newport College in 1972. Virginia's long and varied career included penning a weekly local history column for the Daily Press for more than 18 years. She taught genealogy courses at William and Mary, Thomas Nelson, and other campuses, authoring a book on family history, and serving as director for the Retired Seniors Volunteer Program (RSVP) for 15 years.
Virginia was an honored speaker at many historical societies and a founding member of the Tidewater Genealogical Society. She was respected as one of the foremost experts on the people and happenings of the Peninsula dating back to the earliest English settlement. Her encyclopedic knowledge of family history spanned the globe; Virginia had the uncanny knack of being able to reel off pedigrees and origins for just about any surname. She aided thousands of people on the Peninsula in their search for their ancestors in her role as Director of the Family History Center of the local Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a call she filled for 17 years.
She worked tirelessly in the community, as PTA Federation president in the 1960's, when her children attended Newport News schools. In 1999, she was elected as a delegate for the Silver Haired Legislature. Virginia found her greatest happiness in teaching. During her lifetime she taught Sunday School classes for youth and adults, and held many positions of responsibility in the church.
Virginia married the late James Robert Rollings Jr. of Surry, Va., in 1939.
She is survived by a brother, Harvey Horsfall of Hopewell; her three children, Jenna Russell (James) and Ann Wallace (Larry), both of York County, and James Robert Rollings III (Teresa) of Sherwood, Ark.; as well 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 16, 2011, at W. J. Smith & Son Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, June 17, 2011, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 902 Denbigh Blvd., Newport News. Burial will follow in Peninsula Memorial Park.
Donations can go to the Perpetual Education Fund, at www.lds.org; click "Education" on the menu.
Please leave condolences at www.wjsmithandsonfh.com. Arrangements by W. J. Smith & Son Funeral Home. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Virginia ROLLINGS
Kevin Allford
June 9, 2025
Miss you Mrs Rollings. My friend forever. RIP.
Jacquelyn Evans
June 18, 2011
To Family of Virginia Rollings:
One of my most interesting work experiences in my youth was in working with Mrs. Rollings as a Historian Coordinator at the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) where she was the director.With my fondness for history, I was given an first hand opportunity to record history and gain some knowledge about the seniors who were eighty and over who resided in this area.She lived a full life indeed.
My thoughts are with the family for your continual strength and comfort.
Deb Helm (Bonaguidi)
June 18, 2011
Jim and Teresa,
We have not stayed in touch with you in a number of years, but you both have a special place in our lives. Theresa and I still have fond memories of you both and your mother. Our parents, John and Dorothy Sullivan both passed away last year, September and October, and I am sure that the three of them are at peace. Please send our condolences to your family and know that you are in our prayers.
June 18, 2011
To the family of Virginia Rollins my sincere condolences and thoughts. Mrs. Rollins was instrumental in assisting with organizing Virginia Society for Black Genealogy and Historical Research. Currently known as African American Genealogy and Historical Society of Hampton Roads. She was recognized and in our thoughts as we celebrated 25 years in April, 2011.
She will be missed by many.
Ellen Ford
tom & Barbara Cook
June 17, 2011
To Jenna....We were saddened to hear of your mothers passing. We so much enjoyed getting to know her and benefited from her vast knowledge of the area and its history while serving a mission there in Virginia. She will be greatly missed.
Carole Ann Burrahm
June 17, 2011
To the members of Sister Rollings Family,
My thoughts and prayers are with you. I just can't imagine the Newport News ward with out her! She has been a strength to all of us who grew up there. My parents loved and respected her and that was passed on to myself and my sisters. I told her, on one of my visits back home, that when she was our Young Women's President I thought she was to stern and strict a person and that she really couldn't understand young women at all because she was just to old! She got a good laugh out of that because I went on to tell her when I had the same calling in Oklahoma and Utah SHE was my example and I understood what a responsibility she had and appreciated and loved her even more. I will always be greatful to her for making the arrangements and taking the time to go with Janice, Marsha and I to visit the old Victoria Blvd. Church when we were out there for Daddy's funeral. What a joy and what a beautiful and spiritual time we had with her! It is a cherrished memory. All I can say is even though she will be missed here, what a reunion the old Newport News ward is having in the Spirit World! As I work my shift in the Bountiful Temple on Saturdays, where the spirits are so close to us, I know I will feel their joy at having her with them!
With love and loving memories to you all,
Carole Ann McAdams Burrahm
Vickey Pahnke Taylor
June 17, 2011
My deep sympathy for the loss of your mother and grandmother, Virginia Rollings. She was a beautiful force to be reckoned with, full of energy for good, Christ-like concepts and projects of any kind. From my youth, I saw her as a loving, kind woman of strength who was a blessing to all who knew her.
No doubt she will work more energetically than ever, carefully watching over each one of you.
Our prayers for the Comforter to be felt in great measure, because even with the understanding of eternal truths, there is a place in the heart that feels empty.
Loving thoughts and prayers for all the family,
June 17, 2011
Jim - I am so sorry about the passing of your Mom. I so enjoyed her articles and the conversations we had about her activities. May many happy memories help your healing and loss.
Rock Moeslein
Newport News, VA
Elfriede Morrison
June 17, 2011
To the members of the Virginia H. Rollings Family,
truly it was with sadness to hear about the passing of your beloved mother & grandmother. She was a tower of strenght, knowledge and wisdom. One can only have a grateful heart to have been blessed by knowing her in some small way. Truly she examplified the words - "I am a Child of God..." May the coming days be filled with comfort by Job's 19:25-26 immortal words. My Prayers are with you, with loving Memories, always -
Elfriede H.M. Morrison, El Paso, Texas.
Cheryl Burnham Nicholas
June 17, 2011
Jim and family, I am so very sorry for your loss. I did not know your mother but everyone says she was a wonderful woman who loved and encouraged people. May all of you find comfort in knowing she is smiling down on each of you.Lord, draw this family into the circle of your loving arms and keep them safe. Amen.
Bill Reece
June 17, 2011
I am so sorry to hear of Sister Rollins death. She was a very special lady, teacher, and friend to me and our whole family. She was the most spiritual person I have ever known. We Love her dearly and will miss her.
Barbara Simonsen-Sehestedt
June 16, 2011
Sister Rollings was the very first person I saw when my Dad took me to church for the first time at the old chapel on Victoria Blvd. She has been a major influence in my life for as long as I can remember. I grew to love Gospel Doctrine class because of her excellent teaching and when it came my turn to teach I had courage because of her. I will always be grateful for the many many things she has taught me and for her excellent example. I just know that she is having an in-depth conversation with my Dad on the other side. He always admired her. My love and prayers to the family.
Linda Coltes
June 16, 2011
To the Family of Virginia Rollings, we send our most sincere condolences and thoughts. We all loved her so very much and she will always be remembered among our family. We have spoken of her often over the years since we moved away and every time we would return to VA to visit, she always greeted us with a big hug and smile. May you know of the love she had for each of you, her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She was and is one special lady who will not be forgotten in the Tidewater Area. She was a great teacher and friend to all and had a great sense of humor. May you all be comforted at this time of sorrow, but know that you will see her again. What a reunion she must be having on the other side, even as we mourn her leaving, but she's graduated to a much better place where she can continue her great works. Just know that she will ALWAYS be with you in your memories and your heart. She's a true legend in her own time.
With all our love,
Maurice and Grace Thompson
Fred and Sharon Thompson (South Seoul Korea Mission)
Linda(Thompson) Coltes and husband Ron
KEVIN ALLFORD
June 16, 2011
SISTER ROLLINGS WAS A BLESSING IN OUR LIFES WHEN WE JOIN THE CHURCH OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS AS A FRIEND,TEACHER,AND A VERY SWEET SOUL. WE WILL MISS HER DEEPLY AND TO THE FAMILY OUR PRAYERS AND GOD BLESS YOU . KEVIN AND MOZELL ALLFORD
Ruth Ann Reece Horace
June 15, 2011
Sister Rollings was a great lady and a wonderful teacher to all of us lucky enough to be in her class. She taught us much about the gospel and life. She has been a friend to my family since my parents joined the church in 1954.
Mark Simonsen
June 15, 2011
Virginia Rollings was one of the heroes of my youth. She was my Seminary Teacher and I loved her. There is absolutely no question that her influence had a major impact on my life and that I am a much better person today because of my association with her all those many years ago. My condolences to the family. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
David T Johnston
June 15, 2011
For seven years of my life, and the lives of my wife and children, we were blessed by Virginia's enthusiasm for her volunteer work while we lived in Denbigh. Her support was instrumental in making possible several Genealogy Workshops sponsored jointly by the Family History Center, the Newport News Stake and the the Tidewater Genealogy Society in the early 1990s. She was always there when encouragement was needed to get past roadblocks in family research. To her family, may your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His plan of redemption sustain you in this time of loss. As sure as we bid her farewell others are welcoming her home.
Kay Verser Forrest
June 15, 2011
Jim and family, I am very sorry for your loss. I hope you and your family will take comfort and have peace in your hearts from your precious memories of a gracious and wonderful lady.
With fond memories,
Your friend from long ago,
Kay
Deborah Jones
June 15, 2011
May God Bless you all during this time of sorrow.Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Pam Cason Amburgey
June 15, 2011
I am remembering each one of you in my thoughts and prayers to be blessed with comfort and strength to sustain you through this difficult time. She was a remarkably smart and caring lady and I was blessed to know her. Thanks to my Great Aunt Donna for all the wonderful stories about our great grandparents and family...she gave us a picture of our past that most people never get to know. God Bless you all!
Peggy Lutton
June 15, 2011
Virginia will always be a great lady for all that she has done in her lifetime. Her genealogy work is a great tribute to all who knew her.
Lynn Coates
June 15, 2011
May all your hearts be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived. God will comfort the entire family.
Peyton Page Nottingham IV
June 15, 2011
To the family of Virginia Rollings sorry to hear the loss of a true Virginia Lady and scollar of Genealogy. My grandmother Jane Driver Nottingham took Virginia's first
Genealogy class at TNCC in 1968 witch after where the "Tidewater Genealogical Society" was started. My grandmother was on the board with with Virginia in the 70's. She was a true Lady, I know she will be missed very much. My thoughts and prayers with your family.
Linda Roughton
June 15, 2011
Jim,
I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your mother. May God comfort you and your family during this time of sorrow.
Your neighbor at 654 Trail's Lane,
Linda T. Roughton
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