Mrs. Virginia Lou Graham Jones died peacefully in her home in Henrico, Co. on May 19, 2025, at the age of 86 with her children, William and Jennifer, and beloved cat, Thomas, by her side.
A resident of Radford from 1966-2023, Ginny, the youngest of 10 children, was born in Floyd County to Annie Pearl Yeatts Graham and Andrew Lester Graham. She was raised by her mother and her beloved older brothers, Buddy, Andy and Curtis.
A native of Floyd, Ginny known then as “Genna Lou,” graduated from Floyd High School. She then attended Jefferson Hospital School of Nursing at “the old Jefferson Hospital” in Roanoke. After graduating from nursing school, she became the school nurse at Ferrum Junior College and it was there that she met the love of her life, Franklin. After a three-year courtship they married in 1963 and moved to Athens, Ga. where Franklin was pursuing his PhD and Ginny became the Head Nurse on the OB unit at the Catholic Hospital. She was proud to say “I delivered many babies, from two pounds to 12. I didn’t lose any of them.”
Ginny was a lifelong learner. After moving to Radford, she continued her education at Radford University earning a BS degree in Library Science. Once her children became school age, she began teaching in the LPN Nursing Program at Radford High School. While teaching she also earned her master’s degree in physical science. In addition to teaching nursing, she also taught earth science and was in charge of the Bobcat yearbook for several years. She finished her career as Director of the Nursing Program at Radford High School, where she was directly responsible for training many LPN’s throughout the New River Valley and beyond.
Ginny was also an avid maker. She loved working with her hands and creating. She was a seamstress, knitter, woodworker, basket maker, quilter, water colorist, and gardener, creating hundreds of pieces of clothing, baskets, quilts, artwork, and beautiful plants, trees and flowers.
Ginny loved to serve others; so much so that a church member’s daughter called her “The Meals on Wheels lady.” Not because she was volunteering for Meals on Wheels, but because it sure seemed like she was, as she was always cooking and baking and taking meals to people during times of need. Ginny joined the congregation of The Presbyterian Church of Radford in 1966. She was a devoted church attendee and served in many capacities including as a Sunday school teacher, member of the bell choir and as a Deacon. She also spent many hours sorting jewelry for the Radford Clothing Bank to differentiate the “real stuff” from the other.
Ginny read constantly. From historical fiction to romance novels to nonfiction books about WW2 and the Third Reich, she was always reading something. Needless to say, she had many books and magazines in her home that she was always “gonna get to reading.”
Later in life, she became a proud member of the Daughters of the Revolution researching her family tree for all patriots that served.
Ginny’s greatest love was her family. Nothing thrilled her more than watching her children and grandchildren do what they love, from attending track meets to basketball games to soccer games and musical theater and choir performances—Gmomma was always there to cheer everybody on. She was so proud of her three grandchildren, William Graham Franklin Jones, Elizabeth Carrington Kaufman and Jones Gardner Kaufman, who all graduated from high school this spring. She was thrilled that each of them will be attending college. Graham to UVA, Elizabeth to NYU and Gardner to Virginia Tech. She was the best grandmother one could ask for.
She was predeceased by her husband of 56 years, Dr. Franklin McGehee Jones; her granddaughter Anna Yeatts Kaufman; her sister, Mildred Graham Dallas; her brothers, Buddy, Andrew, Curtis, Hubert and Jimmy Graham; and the siblings she never knew.
She is survived by her two children, Jennifer Jones Kaufman (Wes) of Richmond and William Franklin Jones (Theresa) of Vienna, Va., and grandchildren, William Graham Franklin Jones, Elizabeth Carrington Kaufman and Jones Gardner Kaufman. Additionally, she is survived by many beloved nieces, nephews and their spouses, children and grandchildren.
A graveside service was held at Reidlawn Cemetery in Reidsville, N.C. June 3, 2025. A Memorial Service will be held at the Presbyterian Church of Radford June 21, 2025 at 11a.m.
In lieu of customary remembrances please consider a memorial contribution to The Presbyterian Church of Radford, 201 Fourth St. Radford, VA 24141 (www.pcradford.org) or The Selu Conservancy at Radford University https://inspire.radford.edu/project/37981 in memory of Virginia Jones.
The Jones family is in the care of Wilkerson Funeral Home in Reidsville, N.C.
