Virginia Heard Jensen

Virginia Heard Jensen passed away peacefully at home in Shreveport, La., on August 17 with her daughters by her side. She was 99 years old.

 Virginia was born in Haynesville, La., to Wiley H. and Cora Holley Heard. She was a graduate of Haynesville High School and Louisiana State University (B.S. 1946; M.A. 1949). 

 At LSU, Virginia met and married Bruce Henry Jensen, a native of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and a WWII veteran who had returned to LSU to complete his interrupted degree program. Bruce always told his family that he selected LSU – an unusual choice for a “Yankee” – because he had heard the girls were the prettiest in the country. In Virginia, he proved his theory to be true.

 Virginia and Bruce married on the LSU campus on October 4, 1947. Their first child Karen was born in married student housing in 1949 as the couple finished their undergrad and post-grad degrees. Following their graduation from the Ole War Skule, and at the onset of the Korean War, Bruce was recalled to active duty. The couple, with Karen in tow, traveled extensively with the Coast Guard, with six-to-24-month assignments in 10 U.S. states and territories until Bruce’s retirement as Commander in 1964. The Jensens then settled in Mansfield, La., where their three daughters (Karen along with younger twins Katherine and Elizabeth) completed their public school education.

 Virginia served in the DeSoto Parish School System for 26 years, first as a teacher at Pelican High School for three years and then as guidance counselor at Mansfield High School and assistant principal of student activities, until retiring in 1990. To this day, she is remembered by her students as someone who believed all was possible and as a person who changed lives. She was active in the DeSoto Parish LSU Alumni Association and, in 2012, received the LSU Alumni Leadership Award/Scholarship Endowment. A former “First Lady of Mansfield,” Virginia was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma until health issues intervened, and a long-time congregant of the First United Methodist Church of Mansfield. She and Bruce enjoyed many lifetime friendships over the decades in Mansfield, with Saturday night margaritas at the Stotts’ and Christmas Eves at the Gregorys’ among the highlights.

 Virginia loved LSU. She loved the university, the football team (she knew her stuff), the campus. Virginia also loved her family, devoting her life to her children and, later, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her career gave her much pride, and being remembered fondly by former students meant the world to her. 

 Virginia is pre-deceased by her husband Bruce H. Jensen, Commander, USCG; by her parents (she was the quintessential “daddy’s girl”); and by her three beloved brothers Wiley H. Heard, Jr., of Mansfield, Holley Heard of Lake Charles, La., and Jack L. Heard, of Sweetwater, Tex. She is survived by her three daughters and their husbands: Karen and Barry Musgrove of Bossier City, La.; Katherine and Bob Boccaccio of Baton Rouge, La.; and Elizabeth and James Daws of Vero Beach, Fla. Also surviving are her six grandchildren: Matthew Musgrove, Anne Musgrove, Holley Laursen (Nick), Jake Field (Gabriella), Summer Vaughn (Aron), and Shelby Daws; as well as six great-grandchildren: Andrew, Emily and Grace Musgrove; Jensen and Jessica Spillum; and Eloise Field. 

 The family wishes to thank the caring staff of Brookdale Waterview Senior Living in Shreveport, where Virginia spent her final years in a lovely apartment that she dearly loved. The staff treated Virginia like extended family, always bringing her special treats and stopping by for visits – and the family is eternally grateful. In particular, the family wishes to express our love and appreciation to her devoted caregiver Tammy Fowler, as well as thank the caring hospice team of Amedysis and caregiver Terri Crain.

 The family will hold a private memorial service for their mom/grandmother/great-grandmother in Baton Rouge at a future date. In lieu of flowers, the family appreciates a memorial gift to the LSU Alumni DeSoto Parish Chapter, specifically the Bruce and Virginia Jensen Scholarship Fund. You may mail contributions to: LSU Alumni Association, 3838 West Lakeshore Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70808. Please note on memo line: DeSoto Jensen Scholarship Fund.