Virginia Nelson Self Rainer, known to many as "Ginger", passed away suddenly and peacefully at home on March 18, 2016. Her life was filled with many changes and challenges which she met with unflappable positivity and dignity. She will be remembered and missed for her essential joie de vivre and her love of family, friends, flowers and all things beautiful.
Virginia was born in Midland, Texas on January 10, 1934 to Mary Louise and Richard Nelson. After many moves and schools, she graduated from New Trier High School in Chicago and attended Sweet Briar College, where her education was abbreviated by her romance and subsequent marriage to Henry Callicott Self of Marks, MS. Although it was an abrupt change, Virginia took to her new surroundings and made many life-long friends in the Delta and it was there that they raised their family. She was a faithful member of Marks First Baptist Church, where she taught the Primary Sunday School class for many years, and the Church of the Advent in Sumner, MS. She was an avid tennis player, snow skier and a member of the Delta Sewing Club and the Marks Garden Club.
Following Henry's death in 1985, Virginia moved to Memphis and began yet another chapter, making friends and immersing herself in life there, including her association with Calvary Episcopal Church, Calvary Street Ministry, St John's Episcopal Church, Stephen Ministry, her weekly Tuesday lunch with the "Shrews" and membership in the Memphis Garden Club of America, where she served as its president. She was also an ardent supporter of the Dixon Art Gallery & Gardens and a talented decorator and collector of art and antiques. In 1998 she married James Connell Rainer III and they enjoyed many years together in the company of friends and family and traveling to their beloved Colorado mountains.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by a brother, Robert Byrnes Nelson (Carolyn); her three children, Peyton M.B. Self, lll, (Marge), Mary Louise Self Sinclair (Robert), and Virginia Callicott Self Terry (Cooper); eight grandchildren, Mary Callicott Self, Henry Callicott Self, II, William Wesley Self, Mary Nelson Sinclair, William Robinson Sinclair, Virginia Hawthorne Terry, Edward Cooper Terry, and Annabel Louise Terry; loyal friend, Inell Carter, four step-children, Lesley Rainer Dillon (John), James Connell Rainer IV, (Missy), Stephen Cook Rainer (Debra) and Andrew Talbot Rainer (Keith); 13 step-grandchildren, a step-great granddaughter and numerous nieces and nephews.
The Rainer and Self families also wish to thank Nanny, April, Angela, Tester and Keisha for their loving care.
A celebration of her life will be held at First Baptist Church in Marks on Monday, March 21 at 2 pm followed by visitation at the family home in Marks. There will also be a visitation and memorial service at St John's Episcopal Church in Memphis on Tuesday, March 22 at 10:30 and 11:30 am, respectively.
Virginia was born in Midland, Texas on January 10, 1934 to Mary Louise and Richard Nelson. After many moves and schools, she graduated from New Trier High School in Chicago and attended Sweet Briar College, where her education was abbreviated by her romance and subsequent marriage to Henry Callicott Self of Marks, MS. Although it was an abrupt change, Virginia took to her new surroundings and made many life-long friends in the Delta and it was there that they raised their family. She was a faithful member of Marks First Baptist Church, where she taught the Primary Sunday School class for many years, and the Church of the Advent in Sumner, MS. She was an avid tennis player, snow skier and a member of the Delta Sewing Club and the Marks Garden Club.
Following Henry's death in 1985, Virginia moved to Memphis and began yet another chapter, making friends and immersing herself in life there, including her association with Calvary Episcopal Church, Calvary Street Ministry, St John's Episcopal Church, Stephen Ministry, her weekly Tuesday lunch with the "Shrews" and membership in the Memphis Garden Club of America, where she served as its president. She was also an ardent supporter of the Dixon Art Gallery & Gardens and a talented decorator and collector of art and antiques. In 1998 she married James Connell Rainer III and they enjoyed many years together in the company of friends and family and traveling to their beloved Colorado mountains.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by a brother, Robert Byrnes Nelson (Carolyn); her three children, Peyton M.B. Self, lll, (Marge), Mary Louise Self Sinclair (Robert), and Virginia Callicott Self Terry (Cooper); eight grandchildren, Mary Callicott Self, Henry Callicott Self, II, William Wesley Self, Mary Nelson Sinclair, William Robinson Sinclair, Virginia Hawthorne Terry, Edward Cooper Terry, and Annabel Louise Terry; loyal friend, Inell Carter, four step-children, Lesley Rainer Dillon (John), James Connell Rainer IV, (Missy), Stephen Cook Rainer (Debra) and Andrew Talbot Rainer (Keith); 13 step-grandchildren, a step-great granddaughter and numerous nieces and nephews.
The Rainer and Self families also wish to thank Nanny, April, Angela, Tester and Keisha for their loving care.
A celebration of her life will be held at First Baptist Church in Marks on Monday, March 21 at 2 pm followed by visitation at the family home in Marks. There will also be a visitation and memorial service at St John's Episcopal Church in Memphis on Tuesday, March 22 at 10:30 and 11:30 am, respectively.
Virginia Nelson Self Rainer, known to many as "Ginger", passed away suddenly and peacefully at home on March 18, 2016. Her life was filled with many changes and challenges which she met with unflappable positivity and dignity. She will be remembered and missed for her essential joie de vivre and her love of family, friends, flowers and all things beautiful.
Virginia was born in Midland, Texas on January 10, 1934 to Mary Louise and Richard Nelson. After many moves and schools, she graduated from New Trier High School in Chicago and attended Sweet Briar College, where her education was abbreviated by her romance and subsequent marriage to Henry Callicott Self of Marks, MS. Although it was an abrupt change, Virginia took to her new surroundings and made many life-long friends in the Delta and it was there that they raised their family. She was a faithful member of Marks First Baptist Church, where she taught the Primary Sunday School class for many years, and the Church of the Advent in Sumner, MS. She was an avid tennis player, snow skier and a member of the Delta Sewing Club and the Marks Garden Club.
Following Henry's death in 1985, Virginia moved to Memphis and began yet another chapter, making friends and immersing herself in life there, including her association with Calvary Episcopal Church, Calvary Street Ministry, St John's Episcopal Church, Stephen Ministry, her weekly Tuesday lunch with the "Shrews" and membership in the Memphis Garden Club of America, where she served as its president. She was also an ardent supporter of the Dixon Art Gallery & Gardens and a talented decorator and collector of art and antiques. In 1998 she married James Connell Rainer III and they enjoyed many years together in the company of friends and family and traveling to their beloved Colorado mountains.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by a brother, Robert Byrnes Nelson (Carolyn); her three children, Peyton M.B. Self, lll, (Marge), Mary Louise Self Sinclair (Robert), and Virginia Callicott Self Terry (Cooper); eight grandchildren, Mary Callicott Self, Henry Callicott Self, II, William Wesley Self, Mary Nelson Sinclair, William Robinson Sinclair, Virginia Hawthorne Terry, Edward Cooper Terry, and Annabel Louise Terry; loyal friend, Inell Carter, four step-children, Lesley Rainer Dillon (John), James Connell Rainer IV, (Missy), Stephen Cook Rainer (Debra) and Andrew Talbot Rainer (Keith); 13 step-grandchildren, a step-great granddaughter and numerous nieces and nephews.
The Rainer and Self families also wish to thank Nanny, April, Angela, Tester and Keisha for their loving care.
A celebration of her life will be held at First Baptist Church in Marks on Monday, March 21 at 2 pm followed by visitation at the family home in Marks. There will also be a visitation and memorial service at St John's Episcopal Church in Memphis on Tuesday, March 22 at 10:30 and 11:30 am, respectively.
Virginia was born in Midland, Texas on January 10, 1934 to Mary Louise and Richard Nelson. After many moves and schools, she graduated from New Trier High School in Chicago and attended Sweet Briar College, where her education was abbreviated by her romance and subsequent marriage to Henry Callicott Self of Marks, MS. Although it was an abrupt change, Virginia took to her new surroundings and made many life-long friends in the Delta and it was there that they raised their family. She was a faithful member of Marks First Baptist Church, where she taught the Primary Sunday School class for many years, and the Church of the Advent in Sumner, MS. She was an avid tennis player, snow skier and a member of the Delta Sewing Club and the Marks Garden Club.
Following Henry's death in 1985, Virginia moved to Memphis and began yet another chapter, making friends and immersing herself in life there, including her association with Calvary Episcopal Church, Calvary Street Ministry, St John's Episcopal Church, Stephen Ministry, her weekly Tuesday lunch with the "Shrews" and membership in the Memphis Garden Club of America, where she served as its president. She was also an ardent supporter of the Dixon Art Gallery & Gardens and a talented decorator and collector of art and antiques. In 1998 she married James Connell Rainer III and they enjoyed many years together in the company of friends and family and traveling to their beloved Colorado mountains.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by a brother, Robert Byrnes Nelson (Carolyn); her three children, Peyton M.B. Self, lll, (Marge), Mary Louise Self Sinclair (Robert), and Virginia Callicott Self Terry (Cooper); eight grandchildren, Mary Callicott Self, Henry Callicott Self, II, William Wesley Self, Mary Nelson Sinclair, William Robinson Sinclair, Virginia Hawthorne Terry, Edward Cooper Terry, and Annabel Louise Terry; loyal friend, Inell Carter, four step-children, Lesley Rainer Dillon (John), James Connell Rainer IV, (Missy), Stephen Cook Rainer (Debra) and Andrew Talbot Rainer (Keith); 13 step-grandchildren, a step-great granddaughter and numerous nieces and nephews.
The Rainer and Self families also wish to thank Nanny, April, Angela, Tester and Keisha for their loving care.
A celebration of her life will be held at First Baptist Church in Marks on Monday, March 21 at 2 pm followed by visitation at the family home in Marks. There will also be a visitation and memorial service at St John's Episcopal Church in Memphis on Tuesday, March 22 at 10:30 and 11:30 am, respectively.
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