Virginia S. Butler

BUTLER Virginia S. Butler, age 89 “Vertis” On Monday, August 15, 2016, Virginia S. Butler of Washington, DC. Beloved wife of the late Bernard William Butler, Sr.; mother of Eric S. (Sarah) Butler, Sr., and Lisa D. Butler; grandmother of Bruce (Denise) Kinnard, Robin Nicole Butler and Eric S. Butler, Jr.; great granddaughter of Sydney Butler. She was preceded in death by her sister Mary Frances Eubanks and her brother Harold Lambert and is survived by her brother Abdur-Rahim Rasheed (Hallmah), Melvin (Cathy) Lambert, her sister-in-law Deborah Lambert and a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. Mrs. Butler graduated from the Mecklenburg County Training School in Bracey, Virginia at age 15. She came to Washington DC during WWII and started her career at the US Department of State at the age of 16. She worked at State for over 42 years retiring in 1984. In 1982, Mrs. Butler was selected as the recipient of the Equal Employment Opportunity Award which was presented to her by then Secretary of State, George P. Schultz. Throughout her career, Mrs. Butler worked hard fighting for equality and advancement of Black of civil servant employees and Foreign Service officers. In one article Mrs. Butler stated that “laws are worthless without a commitment from a concerned and energetic management.” In 1987, Mrs. Butler was selected by The Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library of the History of Women in America at Radcliff College to be a participant and a honoree in its “Women in Government Oral History Project which was celebrated by naming as such at the Library of Congress, Madison Building. She also served on the Board of the Phyllis O. Wheatley YWCA in Washington, DC after her retirement. She remained an active member of the Business and Professional Women of Potomac. She is listed in Who’s Who in America. The family will receive friends on Saturday, August 27, 2016 from 10 am until 11 am at Twelfth Street Christian Church, 1812 12th Street, NW, Washington DC where funeral service will immediately follow at 11am. Interment Fort Lincoln Cemetery, Brentwood, Maryland. The family kindly suggests that memorial contributions may be made to the Phyllis Wheatley YWCA, Inc. Please view and sign the family guestbook at www.hinesrinaldifuneralhome.com.