Virginia Mae Handy
July 21st, 1935 - June 11th, 2024
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Virginia's Obituary
Virginia Mae Handy, 88 of Sodus, passed away Tuesday, June 11, 2024.
Born July 21, 1935 in Benton Harbor, MI, she was a well-known author, photographer, pianist, poet and festival coordinator. She graduated with BA cum laude, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo. Virginia was appointed Library Cataloguer, Detroit Public Library and served as cataloguer Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ont.; served as abstractor, Mercy-Memorial Hospital, Benton Harbor/St. Joseph, MI. Virginia was the founder of Michigan’s annual Log Cabin Day Festival (1987-current); served as Editor “Log Cabin Day News” (1987–current) and “Flaxcraft” newsletter (’93-’99), contributed articles, poems in anthologies and poetry magazines; published in Detroit Free Press and South Bend Tribune; was member of Southwestern Michigan Writers’ Club, Michigan Historical Preservation Network, and Centennial Farm Association (her residence—family farm in Sodus, MI so designated.
Virginia was awarded Ist. Place, Fiber Arts Competition, for Linen Curtains Woven from Homegrown Flax (Fiberfest ’92) ; received Recognition of Merit for founding Log Cabin Society of Michigan through the Historical Society of Michigan (’91); as a pianist she achieved 1st Place, Piano Concerto Division, NW Ontario Music Festival (’65). She also enjoyed teaching spinning and fiber projects as a 4-H Leader.
Virginia was preceded in death by her parents Mary and Russell Handy, nephew Nicholas Steiner and half-sister Clara (Lynn) Parker. She is survived by sister Ellie (Leland) Blankenship, Olympia, WA, half-brothers Paul (Debbie) Handy, Tampa, FLA and Don (Patricia), Hobbsville NC; Two Nieces Jane (Dave) Thomsen Colo Springs CO and Christine (Howard) Rose, Woodland Pk, CO ; Grand Nieces Kelsy (John) Ballesteros (great-grand niece Raelynn Ballesteros) , Rachel Steiner, and Grand Nephew Nicholas Thomsen, Colorado Springs CO.
Private Burial will take place at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Sodus, MI. Those wishing to sign Virginia’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Born July 21, 1935 in Benton Harbor, MI, she was a well-known author, photographer, pianist, poet and festival coordinator. She graduated with BA cum laude, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo. Virginia was appointed Library Cataloguer, Detroit Public Library and served as cataloguer Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ont.; served as abstractor, Mercy-Memorial Hospital, Benton Harbor/St. Joseph, MI. Virginia was the founder of Michigan’s annual Log Cabin Day Festival (1987-current); served as Editor “Log Cabin Day News” (1987–current) and “Flaxcraft” newsletter (’93-’99), contributed articles, poems in anthologies and poetry magazines; published in Detroit Free Press and South Bend Tribune; was member of Southwestern Michigan Writers’ Club, Michigan Historical Preservation Network, and Centennial Farm Association (her residence—family farm in Sodus, MI so designated.
Virginia was awarded Ist. Place, Fiber Arts Competition, for Linen Curtains Woven from Homegrown Flax (Fiberfest ’92) ; received Recognition of Merit for founding Log Cabin Society of Michigan through the Historical Society of Michigan (’91); as a pianist she achieved 1st Place, Piano Concerto Division, NW Ontario Music Festival (’65). She also enjoyed teaching spinning and fiber projects as a 4-H Leader.
Virginia was preceded in death by her parents Mary and Russell Handy, nephew Nicholas Steiner and half-sister Clara (Lynn) Parker. She is survived by sister Ellie (Leland) Blankenship, Olympia, WA, half-brothers Paul (Debbie) Handy, Tampa, FLA and Don (Patricia), Hobbsville NC; Two Nieces Jane (Dave) Thomsen Colo Springs CO and Christine (Howard) Rose, Woodland Pk, CO ; Grand Nieces Kelsy (John) Ballesteros (great-grand niece Raelynn Ballesteros) , Rachel Steiner, and Grand Nephew Nicholas Thomsen, Colorado Springs CO.
Private Burial will take place at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Sodus, MI. Those wishing to sign Virginia’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
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