Virginia Sue Braswell Driver Willey

Virginia Sue Braswell Driver Willey, age 101, of Lawrenceburg, TN passed away October 30, 2019 at the Summit Assisted Living Center in Lawrenceburg, TN.  She was born August 2, 1918 in Liberty, Tennessee.

As a child and adolescent, Virginia chose to work in the fields and take care of the animals with her dad and three brothers.  Her only disappointment was when her dad said she must wear a dress because she was a girl.  Virginia and her sister had many cats.  One of the most memorable cats was a fluffy white and black one they played with until one of the brothers screamed and told them to get to the house.  The fluffy cat was a skunk!

Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday night was always for church.  Saturday night was to prepare for Sunday.  She remembered clearly the day she got baptized in the creek.

At age 18, she and William Hugh Driver got married.  She and Hugh grew up teasing, tormenting and telling on each other.  Their marriage was happy and complete with their two daughters, Hazel and Martha.  Virginia and Hugh were both 59 years old when he went to the mailbox and died of a massive heart attack.

Virginia always had a need to be with people and to be active.  At age 62, she started Square Dancing.  She danced all over the South, Caribbean Cruises, and the Opry Stage.  She received many badges for volunteering at Veteran’s Hospital in Nashville.

At age 70, Virginia met Witmel Willey, second husband.  He was a great square dancer and a happy and kindhearted man.  They were married for 22 years.  They danced and were dedicated volunteers at 50 Forward Senior Citizens Center in Madison, Tennessee.

Virginia was 92 when Mr. Willey passed.  She chose to come to Lawrenceburg and live with Martha and Charlie.  The good people of Lawrence County helped her adjust and find happiness.  She loved all the activities at Pulaski Street Church of Christ and Lawrence County Senior Citizens.  When Virginia did not have a place to go she would sit on the porch on Pulaski Street and wait for a sweet neighbor to walk over and visit and of course they would.

When Virginia was 99 ½ she moved to the Summit Assisted Living Center.  She only had to walk out her door to see and play games with friends.  She dearly loved all the social activities and interaction with the people.  A triple thanks goes to the efficient, kind, and thoughtful ladies at the Summit Home Care that treated her like their own mother.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Clint and Artie Braswell; her three brothers, John Garrison, Jasper Braswell (Mattie), L.D. Braswell (Jennie); one sister, Dorothy Braswell Shelton Jenkins (Finley); her first husband, William Hugh Driver (41 years); daughter, Hazel Smith (Kenneth); and her second husband, Whitmel Stallings Willey, Jr. (22 years).

She is survived by her daughter, Martha Holt (Charlie); four grandchildren, Kenneth Smith (Brenda), William Smith, Charles Holt III, and Catherine Holt; four great-grandchildren, Caley Smith, Billy Smith, Jeannie Fox (Craig), and Bryan Smith as well as a host of cousins in Liberty, Doweltown, Smithville and Alexandria, Tennessee.

Arrangements are being handled by Neal Funeral Home, 231 N. Military Avenue, Lawrenceburg, Tennessee.  Graveside services and interment will be conducted at Woodlawn Memorial Park at 10:30 AM Saturday, November 02, 2019.  Family suggests memorials be made to Lawrence County Senior Citizens Center or Pulaski Street Church of Christ.  

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