Virginia Wooley Revels

Virginia Wooley Revels passed away peacefully on September 12, 2025, at age 99. She was born in Mountain Grove, Missouri on June 17, 1926. Beloved daughter of Charles and Ola Wooley, her parents were hardworking farmers and taught her the value of resilience and resourcefulness.
Virginia was a devoted student and avid reader, graduating from Mountain Grove High School as valedictorian. She began her higher education at Southwest Missouri State in Springfield, and like many of her generation, had her plans changed by the advent of World War II. She left school to work at US Army Camp Crowder in Missouri where she met Richard W. Revels from
D'Arbonne, Louisiana. That meeting and subsequent marriage in 1945 began a remarkable 70-year union, filled with love, faith, and enduring influence.
After moving to Bastrop, Louisiana in 1946, they had 4 children over the next 14 years. Dixie Revels Kingston, Richard Wade Revels, Jr., Jana Revels Young, and Claire Revels Shapiro. Virginia cared for her family and was a talented clothing designer and seamstress. She enjoyed gardening and was a gracious hostess.
Virginia's life was also marked by deep faith and joyful service. A committed member of First Baptist Church of Bastrop, she taught Sunday School, YWA, Training Union, WMU, and Vacation Bible School. She sang in the choir and was a prayer warrior, wise mentor, and faithful witness whose favorite question to others was, "Do you know Jesus?"
Beyond church, Virginia gave generously of her time and talents. She was active in the Potpourri Study Club, the Snyder Museum, and the Rose Theater, and proudly supported the Bastrop Fire Department. Even in her nineties, she showed her strength and compassion by founding a monthly Alzheimer's support group, forming deep bonds with its members through shared journeys. Virginia loved to travel and, with a circle of close friends, explored cities and countries across the world. Wherever she went, she carried a spirit of curiosity, grace, and joy. Her legacy of faith, love, and service endures through her family, community, and all who were blessed to know her.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to First Baptist Bastrop, 620 East Madison Avenue, Bastrop, Louisiana 71220 or the Louisiana Baptist Children's Home, 7200 Desiard Street, Monroe, Louisiana 71203, www.lbch.org. We invite all who knew and loved Virginia to join us in celebrating the life of this truly remarkable woman.
A time of visitation for family and friends will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 7, 2025 at Cox Funeral Home of Bastrop, Louisiana. Committal and graveside services will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 8, 2025 at the Culbertson Cemetery at Farmerville, Louisiana followed by memorial services at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 8th, at the First Baptist Church of Bastrop. Immediately following the memorial services a reception will be held in the First Baptist Church Family Life Center.
Mrs. Revels is survived by her sister Sue Lovelace of Tulsa, Oklahoma, daughter Dixie Revels Kingston of San Antonio, Texas, son Richard W. Revels, Jr. and wife Cecille of Lafayette, Louisiana, daughter Jana Revels Young of Atlanta, Georgia, and daughter Claire Revels Shapiro of Memphis, Tennessee. She is also survived by eight grandchildren: Philip Todd Kingston and wife Melissa Kingston, AmyClaire Wieser and husband Joby Wieser, Robert Wilson Revels and wife Christy Revels,
John Richard Revels and wife Fiona Revels, Zachary Powell Young and wife Jordan Young, Ellen Shapiro Celosky and husband Brian Celosky, Lucy Wade Shapiro, Anna Young Flynn and husband Patrick Flynn; and eight great-grandchildren:
Chrissy Wieser Rawlings, Stella Wieser, Cate Revels, Ben Revels, Jack Revels, John Celosky, Virginia Sloane Celosky, and Katherine Young.
The family extends great thanks to Carolyn Alford, John Davis, Marcel Thorn, Kathy Matthews, Antwan Bethea, Kecha Waggoner, Z'chyna Coleman, Cynthia Dantzler, LaToya Morgan, Fekecia Coleman, and especially Lovell Blakeley for their many years of love and support for the Revels Family.
Serving as pallbearers for Mrs. Revels are grandsons, Phillip Kingston, Will Revels, John Revels, Zach Young, Patrick Flynn, Joby Wieser, and Brian Celosky. Honorary pallbearer is Charles Evans, Jr.