Virginia Louise Daniel

Virginia Louise (House) Daniel, 84, of Memphis, TN, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on Monday, January 13, 2025. Born February 20, 1940, in Memphis, TN, to James V. House and Minnie Roden House, she had seven sisters and two brothers. She grew up in West Memphis, AR, and graduated from West Memphis High School.
Virginia married James (Jim) F. Daniel, Sr. in 1959 and celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in 2024. She worked as a secretary at the headquarters of Shainberg's department stores before taking the same position in Administration at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in 1975, where she worked until she retired in 2002. Regardless of where she worked, she was a great employee and co-worker. Whether it was modeling blue jeans for Shainberg's, competing and winning a "Best Legs" competition at St. Jude’s, portraying Lily Tomlin's Ernestine the telephone operator in a skit at St. Jude’s, or baking sweet desserts for her co-workers on their birthdays-or just when she felt like doing it-she was a loyal and devoted employee.
She loved St. Jude’s so much and believed in the work that they did that shortly after retiring, she joined The Ladies of St. Jude’s as a volunteer. She was involved in fundraising projects like the St. Jude’s Dream Home Giveaway for more than 15 years after retirement.
First and foremost, Virginia was a devoted wife. She and Jim spent more than 65 years together. When you saw them together, their love was visible in how attentive, caring, and openly affectionate they were to one another, and they were together at the end of her journey. She was a loving mother of three, a doting grandmother of ten, and a proud great-grandmother of fifteen. Her family was her greatest love.
She loved spending time with her family, whether it was camping, going to the beach, or just spending time together at the holidays. She loved going to the movies, shows at The Orpheum, lunch with her sisters & niece, or just shopping. As anyone who knew her would say, she was a great shopper, and the real challenge was just keeping up with her as she went from store to store.
Virginia was a faithful member of Broadmoor/Waypoint Baptist Church. She and Jim joined Broadmoor in 1969 and served in various capacities in the church. She was a member of the choir, assisted with the preparation of Wednesday night dinners, among other things. She loved her church and when Broadmoor moved from its original location to Bartlett, TN and became Waypoint Baptist Church, they remained members to today.
Virginia is preceded in death by her parents, James V. House and Minnie L. House; her sisters Christine Easter, Kathleen Clay, Pauline Sutton, Bettye McCrosky, and Mary Dearen; and her brother Jimmy D. House. She is survived by her husband, James F. Daniel, Sr.; her sons, James F. Daniel, Jr. (Angela), Jeffrey L. Daniel (Traci), and John S. Daniel, Sr. (Cindy); her grandchildren, Rhiannon Daniel, Andrew Daniel, Rhiannon Wooten (Josh), Brianna Sigler (Shawn), Taylor Daniel, Cameron Daniel, John Daniel, Jr. (Sommer), Jessica O'Steen (Jake), Justin Daniel (Kacie), and Jenny Wells (Jesse); and fifteen great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters, Wanda Erstine (Philip) and Jeri Smith (Robert); her brother, James W. House (Linda); and countless nieces and nephews that she loved.
Services will be held on Friday, January 17, at Memorial Park Funeral Home on Poplar Avenue in Memphis, with visitation from 12:00–1:00 PM, the service from 1:00–1:45 PM, and graveside to immediately follow.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in memory of Virginia H. Daniel.