Virginia Long
Augusta, GA - Virginia Rivers Carpenter Long, 94, entered peacefully into rest on April 20,2015 at Georgia Regents University Hospital. She was preceded in death by her husband Ralph (Donald) Long. Meeting at a USO dance, Virginia and Don were married for 46 years and they enjoyed many years on the dance floor together. She was preceded in death by her siblings Kathryn (Kay) Brinson, Dorothy (Dot) Carpenter, Jack Carpenter and Helen Richardson.
Virginia is survived by her sister, Frances Carpenter Bernhard, who will celebrate her 100th birthday on Sunday! She is also survived by her five children; Ron (Debbie) Houston TX, Larry (Cynthia) Dacula, GA, Ginger Goodwin, Augusta, GA, Teresa O’Brien (Tom) Louisville, KY, and Johnny (Greenville, SC) and eleven grandchildren; Jeremy Horton, Emily and Austin Long, Lauren and Matthew Long, Josie and MaryJohn Long, Allison and Cameron Goodwin, and Virginia and Gavin O’Brien, as well as three great-grandchildren; Maddox Horton, Bryce Long and Carsyn Long. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.
The daughter of the late Dr. George L. Carpenter and Alice Weltch Carpenter, Virginia was born in Wrens, Georgia and moved to Augusta as a teen. After graduating from Tubman High School, Virginia continued her education at LaGrange College where she was involved in music and theatre. She enjoyed the center of the stage, but not being the center of attention and donated her time to many causes.
Early in her career she worked for the Georgia Railroad Company but teaching children was her passion. During the 60's and 70's she worked for the Richmond County Recreation Department and was known as the "park lady" to many children at Chaffee, May, and Central parks. She spent most of her life as an educator teaching at Bayvale & Copeland elementary schools and the last 15 years of her career working with her daughter, Ginger Goodwin, at St. Mary on the Hill Catholic School from which she retired in 2000 at the age of 80!
Family and her Christian faith were most important to her. She was a loving and devoted wife and mother. She was a member of St. Mary on the Hill parish for over 50 years. She also enjoyed singing with the Prime Time Singers at Trinity on the Hill United Methodist Church. A self-taught pianist, she enjoyed entertaining her students, friends, and family. She loved to dance...she had great rhythm in her body, but a greater rhythm in her spirit. She had more wit and spunk than most who were half her age. She was kind-hearted, always smiling, and a great story teller. She was a true inspiration and example that age is just a number and life should be lived to the fullest!
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Mary on the Hill Endowment Fund, 1420 Monte Sano Ave., Augusta, Georgia 30904.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, April 27, 2015 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church.
A vigil will be held at 4:00 p.m. followed by visitation 4:30-6:00 on Sunday, April 26, 2015 at Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at www.thomaspoteet.com