was born November 7, 1916, in Lawrenceburg TN to Gertrude Pope Willis and Maxwell V Willis. When she was three years old, her mother died and between ages three and nine, Virginia lived in five homes in TN and AL. At age nine she was reunited with her father, her new step-mother Marie, and baby sister in Miami, FL. After the Florida Boom, the family lost their savings and moved to her father’s original home in Mobile, AL. Gini aspired to be a teacher but there was no money for her to go to college. She worked for the Veterans’ Administration, enlisted in the Navy during World War II, and later rejoined the VA in Miami, where she met her future husband John Riley “Mitch” Mitchell.
Virginia and John had two daughters, Barbara and Pamela. After his retirement from Federal Aviation Agency, the couple moved to Inverness FL where they built their home on a lake. They had many happy years there and met new friends. After John’s death, Gini moved to AL to be closer to her daughter Barbara. She lived independently until three years ago when she shared Barbara’s home in Vestavia.
Gini was a gifted teacher, thoughtfully explaining facets of Bible study and bridge. She enjoyed reading, arts, music, gardening, and travel and visited at least 43 countries. She always said her favorite trip was her most recent one, but she was especially pleased to join the Birmingham Honor Flight to Washington DC for World War II veterans. She was a founding member of Women in Military Service for America Memorial and donated her Navy uniform to them.
She was preceded in death by baby brother Max, infant daughter Pamela, sister Mary Willis Larkin, and husband John Mitchell. She is survived by daughter Barbara Mitchell, sister Jeanne Willis Mason, and many loving nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be at Kilgroe Funeral Home Sunday, 12/20 from 4-5PM. A celebration of Gini’s long and joyful life will be held at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Birmingham on Monday, 12/21 at 10AM with visitation an hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo at 12.30PM. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to WIMSA (Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation), Dept 560, Washington DC 20042-0560.
Arrangements under the direction of Kilgroe Funeral Home, Leeds, AL.
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