Virginia Nelson

Virginia Angain (affectionately known as Ginger) was born in Miami, FL to Clarence and Mattie Angain on July 13, 1958. Although she was their only child, she had a self-described happy childhood with memories of playing with her dogs, pretending that she was July Garland in the Wizard of Oz. She attended Arcola Lakes Elementary School, Horace Mann for Middle School and then graduated from Central High School in 1976.

Though she had an opportunity to attend the University of Miami, her passion for singing proved to be a dominant force in her life. She joined the Ingraham Gospel Singers early on and began to travel regionally, singing the praises of Jesus. She would sing with a number of other gospel groups before she found a permanent home at Northwest Baptist Church. In 1995, Virginia auditioned on a Sunday night for then-choir director, Jim Tau, and blew away everyone in attendance with her gifted singing abilities. Over the next two decades, Virginia was a permanent fixture in the NBC Choir and a member of the ladies trio. She also performed solos on Sunday mornings and led the “gospel-flavored” songs during the Annual Christmas Cantata.

While singing was one of her greatest joys, there was no doubt how much joy she had in supporting her son, Jerry, in almost every activity in which he was involved. She was a regular attendee at Northwest Christian Academy football, baseball, and basketball games, music performances, and even on special overnight trips. She was a regular volunteer, serving up

refreshments in the snack bar at games or on Sunday nights after church. Her presence extended beyond simply being Jerryʼs mother. She became a second mom to many on the team. Players, coaches, and parents were all drawn in by her deep trust in the Lord, ability to encourage, and

faithful presence. This was at the core of who she was. It traveled with her everywhere she went whether working for Southern Bell, Northern Trust Bank, Carlton Field Law Firm, or Miami Dade County Public

Schools. She touched everyone and was truly a herald for the Lord. While “working with numbers” was the common thread at each stop, she believed it was her ministry to encourage people and to

help them keep their eyes focused on the Lord. She would regularly tell people to pray and trust God whenever they encountered a problem.

Beyond her ability to sing and encourage, she left a legacy that supersedes all of them: she understood the power of forgiveness. Though she had a very happy childhood, her adult life was not as kind to her. Many relationships she entered into ended in much pain, and the emotional pain began to take its toll physically. Even in the midst of great pain, she had the ability to look

beyond an offense and see that there was something deeper troubling her offenders. She was able to see a deeper need for her offenders to resolve their own issues and that, in many cases, she was just collateral damage. She would often speak of the hurt she had felt and endured at

many of her jobs, but she always felt that God had called her to each place to be a light. This legacy of forgiveness and the ability to move toward reconciliation and restoration with her accusers and offenders was the greatest demonstration that the Holy Spirit lived in her. She

would often say to her son, “Jerry, I must forgive and live right because I donʼt want you to miss out on your blessings.”

Her legacy will live on in the lives of her Mother - Mattie Angain Brundage, Stepfather - Arnold Brundage, Son - Jerry Nelson, Daughter-in-law - Christine Nelson, and three Grandkids - Lydia (15), Jonah (13), and Jacob (11).