Virginia "Presh" Tift Brumby died peacefully Tuesday morning, February 2, 2010, in Tifton at the age of 94. She was the granddaughter of Tifton's founder Henry Harding Tift and of Jerome B. Pound of Chattanooga, Tennessee. She was the daughter of Henry Harding Tift, Jr. of Tifton and Virginia Pound Tift of Lookout Mountain, Tennessee and sister of Dr. Henry Harding Tift III of Macon.
Virginia was married to Richard Gray Brumby of Marietta and Atlanta for 52 years until his death in 1989 from injuries sustained in a plane crash. They made their home in Atlanta and raised all six of their children there. To the kids, Virginia was known as "Bobbie".
Virginia graduated from the University of Georgia with a Fine Arts Degree in voice and piano and was the first woman to solo with the University Glee Club.
She shared her love and gift of music with all who knew her and loved nothing more than seeing folks making music together. Throughout her life, she was an avid supporter of the arts and provided encouragement and support to many young musicians as well as choirs, and symphony or opera groups. In 2009, she was honored with The Virginia Tift Brumby Music Chair, which was endowed by the Tift County Foundation for Educational Excellence.
Though Virginia had an abundance of talent, she devoted her life to the care of her children and grandchildren and to her very large extended family. For many, she epitomized the phrase "if there is room in the heart, there is room in the home". Her home was constantly filled with family, friends, friends of friends, and many others who enjoyed the gifts of her warm welcome, loving spirit, and generous hospitality. And there was always the music.
Virginia is survived by six children, 3 sons and two daughters-in-law; 3 daughters and one son-in-law: Richard Gray Brumby of Big Canoe, Thomas Micajah Brumby IV (Mike and Moppy) of Tifton, Virginia Brumby McLeod of Asheville, North Carolina, Jerome Pound Brumby (Ramona) of Johns Creek, Mary Brumby Stephens of Johns Creek, and Cordelia Brumby Jernigan (Fletcher) of Atlanta, as well as 13 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.
A reception will be held Friday, February 5, 2010 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. in St. Anne’s Episcopal Church Parish Hall in Tifton.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to build the endowment of the Virginia Tift Brumby Music Chair. Annual grants are available on a competitive basis to fund innovative ideas to enhance music instruction and performance in the Tift County Public Schools. Gifts may be sent to The Tift County Foundation for Educational Excellence; P. O. Box 714; Tifton, GA 31793.