Rest in peace Virginia ‘Ginny’ Harris

Virginia Grant Harris

November 6, 1924 – November 27, 2009

At this time of Thanksgiving, we are thankful for the life of my dear mother-in-law, Virginia Grant Harris, who passed away after a long illness on Friday.  She was married to Teague ‘Bucky’ Harris for 64 years.  They raised two exemplary sons, Teague and John, of whom she was very proud. 

Ginny grew up in Greenville, South Carolina and spent many happy days at the family farm near Ware Shoals.  An x-ray technician during WWII, she later became a devoted military wife and enjoyed assignments in Panama, California, Hawaii, Washington D.C., Alabama, Texas, and Athens, Greece.  As the air force base commander’s wife in Athens, Mrs. Harris put her refined entertaining skills to good use.  Her fine china, crystal and silverware were placed on pure Irish linen tablecloths;  her menu was always relevant.

A Southern lady to the core, her delicate hands were often clothed in one of many in her impressive collection of stylish ladies’ gloves that could rival the Queen’s!  Many of her elegant outfits were custom made and she was partial to cashmere sweater sets.  Ginny was also an accomplished Bridge player, an avid reader, and a lover of Welsh Corgis.  She enjoyed a good joke and delivered a particularly racy one in her Southern drawl…now that’s nice!

Mrs. Harris was an all-round homemaker and an accomplished cook.  She baked her son, my husband, his favorite Caramel cake every year for his birthday.  She hosted many Thanksgiving meals and taught me how to roast a turkey to perfection.  She shared her recipes for Southern style Macaroni and cheese, Banana bread, Cole slaw, Pecan pralines, Banana pudding (with extra egg yolks, of course!), Peach pickle and many more.

She embraced me like the daughter she never had and loved my family of foreigners, including their unusual names, customs and accents!  She taught me that the word ‘hair’ is a two syllable word pronounced hay-a! 

We will miss you Ginny, Mom and Grandma!

Bucky, Timmy, John, Susan, Dragana, your grandchildren Alexander, Emilia and Haley, and a host of family and friends.