Virginia L. Nelson

1939 - 2025

Virginia L. Nelson

March 16, 1939 - May 27, 2025

Virginia L. "Ginny" Nelson, 86, died May 27, 2025, in Charlottesville, attended by her children and caregivers.

Ginny was born March 16, 1939, in Livonia, MI, the third daughter of Lloyd F. and Margaret Nelson. Following in the footsteps of her remarkable mother, who had returned to college to become a high school English teacher, Ginny graduated from Michigan State University in 1961 and began her own teaching career (albeit in Spanish).

While in her first teaching job, she met and married a colleague, Charles M. Heuchert, who would go on to become a university professor. The union produced a son, Daniel Nelson Heuchert, and a daughter, Katherine Elaine Heuchert (now Bennett). The family eventually settled in Charlottesville.

Ginny continued to pursue her own career. She led Weight Watchers classes for a few years before entering the real estate sales field, where she found her greatest success. Working primarily for Real Estate III, she was one of the area's top sellers at her peak, earning the Charlottesville-Albemarle Board of Realtors' Salesperson of the Year Award in 1984 and Real Estate III's Frank Kessler Award. She also earned ethics awards and taught real estate ethics courses.

Though her marriage ended in divorce, she remained a devoted mother, then "Grammy," and eventually a great-grandmother. She was an active member of St. Mark Lutheran Church, where she sang in the choir for many years. She also was a loving pet owner to many dogs and cats throughout the years, adopted from the local SPCA or rescue organizations.

She loved beach life (particularly on the Outer Banks) and family events, so family events at the beach were the best. But wherever the Nelson clan chose to gather, she would be there, at the center of the action.

In 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, she moved to The Blake at Charlottesville. There she found a new community of friends, with whom she played Bingo and met for happy hours (a tradition she had previously relished with the gang at Rhett's Bar & Grill, before that establishment relocated to Zion's Crossroads). She and her final canine family member, Nessie, were featured in a newspaper advertisement extolling the virtues of The Blake.

Ginny was predeceased by her parents and her sisters, Elaine Wright and Marilyn Kaestner.

She is survived by her children, Daniel (and Lisa) Heuchert of Charlottesville and Katherine Kildea "Katy" (and Craig) Bennett of Stuart's Draft; grandchildren, Charles "Charlie" Kildea (and Madison Stinson) of Palmyra; Aaron "Ronnie" (and Brenna) Kildea of Palmyra; Jeff (and Monica) Kildea of Charlottesville; Michelle Heuchert (and Mohammad Al-Haroun) of Kuwait City, Kuwait; and Jonathan Heuchert of Raleigh, North Carolina; and great-grandchildren Caroline and Hannah Kildea and Helen and Charlotte Al-Haroun.

The family is grateful to the staff at Hospice of the Piedmont and at The Blake of Charlottesville for their care for, and love of, Ginny. Memorial donations can be made to the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA, Hospice of the Piedmont, St. Mark Lutheran Church, or to the charity of your choice.

A memorial event is being planned for July 10. To be notified of the time and place, please email re3gnelson19@gmail.com.