Virginia Mayberry

A woman who was content in all things, Virginia Mayberry was a thoughtful, kindhearted, and loving woman whose greatest joy was found in her family. She was an extraordinary wife and mother who considered it a blessing and a privilege to nurture and care for the needs of her husband and children. Virginia lived a life of purpose and meaning with an unwavering faith as the compass she used to direct her steps. Although life will never be the same without her here, the lives of so many will be blessed because of her touch. Throughout much of the 1920s America experienced great prosperity fueled by innovation that impacted both the business and industrial sectors in cities and communities all across our great land. This was the Roaring Twenties when Broadway was at its all-time peak and we experienced the explosion of American baseball because of legends like Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb. Radios brought us news, the Charleston was a hot dance craze, and Amelia Earhart and Charles Lindbergh transformed the world of flight. It was during this vibrant time that a young couple from Jefferson City, Missouri, was delighted to welcome a healthy baby girl into their bustling clan. Virginia Lucille was the sixth of ten children born to her parents, George and Mary (Lape) Bowers, and she was raised in the family home on a small farm in Cape Girardeau alongside her older siblings, Ora, George, Helen, Ida Mae, and Grace, and her younger siblings, Paul, Jack, Bill, and Juanita. Her father worked as a farmer while her mother was a busy homemaker. The Bowers family was a close-knit bunch who regularly worked side by side on the farm and in the home. Virginia and her siblings were also blessed with special friendships within their church community. She attended local schools through the ninth grade. Life was forever changed for Virginia when she met the man with whom she would write a love story that would span more than 55 years. His name was Carl Edward Mayberry, and they met because his brother was married to Virginias sister. There was a spark between them that neither could deny, and after a time of dating they became husband and wife on March 28, 1947, just before Carl was called to serve as WWII was coming to an end. Not long after, the couple was delighted to discover that they were expecting a baby. In 1950 they celebrated the birth of their daughter, Mary, and she was later followed by Gary, Michael, Steve, and Carl who completed their family of seven in 1962. Their busy family later moved to the Village of Lakewood in Dalton Township. From the moment she became a mother Virginia fully embraced her new role with grace and beauty. She was blessed with a natural tendency toward homemaking, and it could be argued that she was the best cook around. Virginia enjoyed baking, and her children were usually greeted with homemade donuts or cookies when they got home from school. Every Sunday she prepared a big southern breakfast of biscuits and gravy, eggs, and other breakfast foods that everyone always loved. Virginias chicken and dumplings and beef roasts were also second to none. No matter what she was making she always made plenty as her door was forever open to anyone who wanted to drop by. Family time was highly valued in Virginias home, just as it had been in her childhood home. Many of their activities centered on their church, Muskegon Apostolic Tabernacle. There were also memorable trips to Missouri every summer where they stayed with her mother and visited with other extended family members. Throughout their married life Virginia and Carl exemplified what marriage is truly intended to be, inspiring all who knew them. They were best friends who always made time for each other. Carl brought his sweetheart chocolate for every Valentines Day, and he also took her to her favorite restaurant, House of Chan, to celebrate their anniversary while their older children took the younger ones to dine at Burger King followed by a night at the movie theater. After he retired they had more time for doing the things they loved, and they became active with local tour groups through their church. Virginia and Carl took several trips with the group over the years including to Niagara Falls and Branson, Missouri, just to name a couple. When her beloved Carl died in 2003, Virginia was deeply saddened. She carried on as best she could, finding strength in her faith and the love of her family that blossomed to include grandchildren and great-grandchildren later in life. With a special place in her heart for animals, Virginia loved cats and dogs. In everything she did, Virginia Mayberry carried herself with a kind heart, a graceful courage, and a quiet strength that is to be admired. She never worried about building wealth according to the worlds standards, rather, she demonstrated that it is through the love we share with those around us that we richly blessed. Virginia was blessed to spend the best years of her life with her true love with whom she witnessed her family tree grow to include numerous branches of loved ones who were her greatest treasure. A true gift in the lives of many, she will be dearly missed and warmly remembered. Virginia L. Mayberry died on Thursday, January 24, 2013. Virginias family includes here sons, Gary Mayberry of Muskegon, Michael (Kim) Mayberry of Muskegon, Steve (Caroline) Mayberry of Montague, Carl (Tara) Mayberry of Muskegon; daughter, Mary (Roger) Ross of TN; 8 grandchildren; 7 great grandchildren; brothers, Paul (Delores) Bowers of KS, Jack Bowers of MO; sister, Juanita (Earl) Bostic of MO. She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl. Services will be held on Thursday, January 31, 2013, 11:00 a.m. at The Muskegon Apostolic Tabernacle with Pastor Frank Zenobia officiating. Interment at Sunrise Memorial Gardens. Visit with Virginias family and friends on Wednesday, 6-8 p.m. at Clock Life Story Funeral Home - Muskegon and Thursday, 1 hour prior to the service at the church. Memorials can be made to Mercy VNS & Hospice. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to leave a memory or sign the online guestbook.