Obituary of Virginia Beatty

Raleigh- Virginia "Ginger" Rogers Hester Beatty passed away January 10, 2015. She was born, July 10, 1937 in Raleigh, NC the youngest of four children. She attended Needham Broughton High School, where she was the newspaper editor and salutatorian of the class of 1955. Ginger then attended Peace College for one year and worked for Equitable Life Insurance Company.

She married Neill McLaurin Beatty on November 23rd 1957. She was involved in church activities throughout her life including being an elder at Parkside Presbyterian church in Madison, WI and First Presbyterian Church in Raleigh.

She headed the bereavement committee and she was awarded Life Membership of First Presbyterian Women at First Presbyterian Church in Raleigh.

Ginger lived in Covington/ Valley Ridge, VA from 1964-1967, moved to Dixfield, ME from 1967-1971, moved to Sun Prairie, WI from 1971-1993 before moving to Raleigh in November of 1993. She volunteered at Rex Hospital for 21 years with her husband and received the one thousand hour pin. She was active in cancer support groups in both Madison, WI and Raleigh where she was a good listener and encourager.

Ginger and Neill loved taking cruises, over a period of 23 years they took 39 cruises around the world with Holland America earning the status of five star mariner. Most of her life Ginger was a seamstress; she made many clothes for her family and grandchildren. Turning her passion for sewing to charity she used her skills to appliqu several hundred blankets for mission projects to Uganda.

She was preceded in death by her mother Louise Hester and sister Martha McLaurin. She is survived by her husband of 57 years Neill Beatty, daughters Catherine (Beatty) Minjkives and Carolyn (Beatty) Johnson and husband Dale all of Raleigh; 6 grandchildren; brothers Jack Hester and wife Betty and John Hester.

A funeral service will be held 2:00pm Saturday, January 17 at First Presbyterian Church of Raleigh; the family will receive friends immediately following the service at the church. A private interment will be held at Montlawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to First Presbyterian Church of Raleigh 120 West Hargett St. Raleigh 27601 or SECU Hospice House 426 Hospital Rd Smithfield, NC 27577. Online condolences can be made at www.montlawn.com