Virginia R. Fretwell

Virginia R. Fretwell passed peacefully from this life on Monday the 22nd of February, 2021 at Piedmont-Fayette Hospital, Fayetteville, Georgia, where she’d been receiving excellent care for the previous week. “Ms. Virginia,” as she was affectionately known was admitted for acute respiratory failure the 15th of Feb. Over the course of the week, other already weakened organs further weakened and her oxygen requirements increased. Early Monday morning, following an apparent stroke, 91 year old Ms. Virginia slept peacefully with her daughter Sallie by her bedside. Shortly after 10:00 AM she quietly slipped the bonds of this life. Ms. Virginia had often expressed, in the last year or so, a readiness to “go home,” and to see Jesus, face to face.

Ms. Virginia also spoke of longing to be reunited with her husband of 56 years, Marvin L. (Bud) Fretwell, who went “home” ahead of her in 2011. She, and her husband were both from the Waynesboro area of Virginia, which is also where Marvin is, and Virginia will be laid to rest, side by side, as they wished. Born Mary Virginia, on the 20th of August, 1929 will also have been reunited with her parents, Dorothy Virginia Bauserman Garrett and James Edwin Garrett; her beloved brother-in-law, H. Thomas Fretwell; and sister, Amelia Fauber.

Ms. Virginia is survived by her daughter, Sarah (Sallie) Metzger and her son-in-law, Richard R. Metzger. She was the adored “Granma” of Thomas, George and Charles, who, with Sallie and Richard, tended to her every need since January of 2011, when Ms. Virginia’s husband passed away. Ms. Virginia moved from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina where they had retired, to live with and be cared for by her Metzger family, residing in Peachtree City, Georgia. Ms. Virginia’s son Edwin T. (Ned) Fretwell and his fiancé, Michele A. Midwinter also live in Peachtree City, close by to be able to visit and help when needed. She was thrilled to get frequent visits from grandchildren (Ned’s children), Samuel T. and Kailey S. Fretwell; as well as her beloved daughter-in-law, Kathleen Shea Fretwell, all of Annapolis, Maryland.

The Cathedral of Christ the King in Sharpsburg, Georgia; Ms. Virginia frequently said, is “the most loving Church (she’d) ever attended.” Ms. Virginia, as well as and Ned and Michele have all been members of Christ the King for the last ten years, and the Metzger’s since 2006. The Rector of Christ the King, Bishop David Epps, drove to Myrtle Beach, to be a support to the Metzgers and Fretwells during the visitation and funeral of Ms. Virginia’s husband, Marvin. Her Christ the King family was truly who she thought of as an extension of her family. She loved attending Church and being loved on and hugged by everyone. Frequently, different children of the Church family would come in from Sunday school and find a way to sit next to her. The worship team learned songs that Ms. Virginia asked them to include in the service, and she donated altar linens in memory of her husband and so loved to see them on the altar. She really drew life from her Church family. Quarantines in the last year were very hard on her, not being able to go to Church, but watching live stream instead just wasn’t the same for her. She liked receiving cards and gifts from those from whom she was separated by lock-downs.

Ms. Virginia is also survived by two other sons, D. Tucker Fretwell of Stuarts Draft and Matthew Thomas Fretwell of Virginia Beach, Virginia; grandchildren: Devon Tucker Fretwell of Stuarts Draft, Virginia, Kathleen Elizabeth Fretwell and Hailey Madison Fretwell, both of Outer Banks, North Carolina; and Caroline Hayes Fretwell of Virginia Beach, Virginia; sisters, Betty Atkinson and Hazel Jones; dear cousins, Ellen Simpson Jampole and Charles Frederick Simpson; nieces: Amy Fauber Fitzgerald, Laura Fauber Simmons, and Allison Jones Sprouse, and nephew, Dr. Treacy Douglas Jones.

The funeral will be held at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Sharpsburg, Georgia on Saturday the 6th of March, 2021 at 2 o’clock P.M. There will be a graveside burial service at the Riverview Cemetery in Waynesboro, Virginia at a later date to be determined.

In lieu of flowers, Ms. Virginia expressed that she would love for donations to be made to the Cathedral of Christ the King, 4881 GA-34 Sharpsburg, Georgia 30277 or by phone at 770-252-2428.