Virginia Couillard

Virginia, or Ginny, as her friends called her, passed away on Saturday, June 10, 2017, after a long struggle with illness and declining health. Virginia was born in Hattiesburg, Miss., on Aug. 21, 1924, to the late William and Naomi Andress Thrower; she was the third of four children. Her work career began early as a 13-years-old, singing live on the radio in Hattiesburg under the stage name of Chiquita. Virginia was married to Ben Couillard from September 1946 until his death in April 2017. They lived most of their married life in Brookhaven, Miss., where Ben was an anesthesia provider and Virginia was the office manager for her beloved Drs. Atkinson and Carner. They retired to Destin, Fla., and as they entered their 70s they moved to Chattanooga, Tenn., to be near their children. Ben and Virginia attended the Standifer Gap SDA Church. She was well known for her cooking and her love of her family and friends. She was preceded in death by her older brothers, Luke and Robert. She is survived by a sister, Patricia Grissom, of Athens, Ga.; her children, Michael (Mary), of Charlotte, Samuel (Jacqueline), of Chattanooga, Daniel (Terilyn), of Tampa, and Ann, of Chattanooga; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. The family wishes to thank her loving caregiver of the past years, Lisa Ayers, without whom our lives would have been greatly diminished. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, June 25, 2017, with visitation at 1 p.m. and the service at 2 p.m. at the Standifer Gap SDA Church, 8310 Standifer Gap Rd, Chattanooga, TN, 37421. She will rest at the National Cemetery in Chattanooga, TN alongside her husband of 70 years, Ben. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital or Hearth Hospice, 1800 Rossville Avenue, Chattanooga, TN. Please visit www.heritagechattanooga.com to share words of comfort to the family. Arrangements by Heritage Funeral Home, 7454 E. Brainerd Road.