Virginia Williams French

Virginia Williams French

Born October 19th, 1942 in Flagstaff, Arizona to Osie and Josephine Williams. The second of eight children into an impoverished family of migrant farmers. The stories are familiar through the generations, sleeping in tents in the orchards, changing school’s multiple times each year, working all week for a nickel’s worth of candy. Never was it said they were neglected or mistreated. Instead work ethic, joy and faith were the themes for Jay, Virginia, Daniel, Paul, Mary, Sarah, John and baby Joel.

Life wasn’t easy during those years and hard work was inevitable. One by one each child took up the family trade and were blessed with the lessons of the field. Working twelve-hour days in the sun next to fellow migrants of every race and creed, each one’s productivity was their worth. No man, woman or child above another accept through laziness or dishonesty.

The times after work with all the children in camp were full of laughter and thrills. Riding a baby carriage down a steep hill then pushing it to the top for another turn. Daddy bringing a seal pup home from the beach to entertain the kids. Washing up in the creek with all your friends. On payday the kids each spent their meager earnings at the Safeway store on a special meal that everyone got to share. They never knew they were poor growing up, they were having too much fun. The bond between the siblings was strong, and they remained close throughout their lives.

Through the years, good and bad, one thing never wavered, Osie’s faith and commitment to the Lord. He instilled this in his children. Bible study by campfire light, nightly prayer and camp revivals were a way of life. Virginia gave her soul to Christ early and was faithful to her convictions for all of her 80 years.

Virginia would marry Earl Brassfield in 1960 and they shared three children: Robert, Debbie and Mark Wayne. After several troubled years, however, they went their separate ways. The next years would be the most challenging of her life. She took on dual roles of mother and father. Caring for the kids when they were sick and disciplining them when they did wrong. Taking them to school, then going to the first of two, sometimes three jobs. Cleaning houses and cooking in cafes put food on the table most of the time, but sometimes it wasn’t enough. Debbie can tell about the gravy with food coloring to make it more appealing. “Mommy, it’s the same old gravy.” she would cry. Through all this the lessons of her childhood carried her through.

Her relationship with Robbie, her eldest, was just, special. He took on a leadership role in the family, and Virginia depended on him to be more than a boy far too often. He would do anything his mother asked of him, but he rebelled under the pressure of stepping in as a father figure. We’re told of him building a porch on the house when he was just fifteen years old and also being filled with birdshot when he was caught siphoning gas at seventeen. He was quite a character. Later, after some years of maturing he would settle down, run several successful businesses and become his mother's closest confidant. He lost his battle with cancer in 2017. His last request of his younger siblings was always, "take care of Mom". Virginia never recovered from the heartbreak of losing her first born child.

Virginia and Debbie. Oakland, California, 1982. Deb was eighteen and eight months pregnant. Mom had never before been to the big city, both in long dresses just laughing out loud at all the funny sights. They didn’t know it was them out of place all along. What a pair they were. Like most mother daughter relationships, theirs had its share of ups and downs over the years. After each squabble however, the tears would flow, and the embrace would be that much tighter. After raising her own kids, Deb moved back closer to mom, and they spent many years living under the same roof and hunting for garage sales together. They enjoyed the grandkids coming to the house most of all. Mother May I or a game of skip bo was always a joy. Debbie was her mother’s primary caregiver in these last years.

Probably no one in this world could keep Virginia’s attention the way her youngest, Mark Wayne, could. His life stories, not one bit exaggerated, mind you, have captured the imagination of his mother like none other. Whether he’s been down in Mexico after the prettiest girl you ever saw or on a cross country motorcycle trip or making the big bucks on the next construction job, her eyes just lit up when he told his momma all about it. Mark inherited his mothers work ethic. It’s been said he could outwork three men on a roof in the heat of the summer. After all the working and traveling he’d done, he was there by her side when she needed him most.

Virginia married Jasper Don French, in 1985 and they had many good years together. They built a beautiful home, enjoyed raising chickens and living the simple life. Don became the Papa the grandkids didn’t have. Taking advantage of his job as a truck driver, they made numerous trips across the country. They were able to visit many great parks and historic sights before she became ill and moved into her children’s care.

If ever there was a perfect grandmother, it was Nina for sure. It didn’t matter if you were blood relatives or a stranger from down the street, everyone knows who Nina is. Sure, she baked cookies and had the kids over for sleepovers and holiday meals, like she’s supposed to. But how many regular Ol ’grannies take you camping out on the ground, hiking through the woods up to a waterfall, or hunting esquire muskins along the railroad tracks? How many get in the floor and teach you how to somersault, or about the karate finger? And she even taught US to work. We will never forget the cold days in the pecan orchards, or the hot days in the strawberry patch. There she was filling bucket after bucket, putting all us kids to shame. I know everyone loves their grandma, but trust me, nobody had a grandma like our Nina.

Throughout her lifetime, faith stood above all else. She attended several home churches over the years but the Racine Apostolic Church of Racine, Missouri, is most often referred to as HER church. She attended and sent her kids to school there during her child rearing years under the guidance of Brother Jim Triplet. Other important churches to mention are the Apostolic Lighthouse UPC in Breckinridge, Texas, then pastored by Brother Winston Roach, The Pentecostals of Eastland, pastored by Brother Chris Ferguson, and Faith Tabernacle of Jefferson, Texas pastored by Brother David Story.

If you had to name the biggest achievement of Virginia’s life, it would no doubt be her role as Sunday school teacher. For so many years, this woman of God made it her mission to teach children the word of the lord. So often she would say, “If you don’t reach them young you may never reach them.” We will never know how many trips she made picking up kids, bringing them to and from the church. It was her calling, and God knows she answered the call. So many souls were saved through her good work.

Sunday school wasn’t the only way she spread the gospel. She lent her voice and talent on the keyboard to church services many times over the years. She also enjoyed ministering to nursing home patients through music and had a number of long friendships with people of different backgrounds and Christian denominations through that ministry. A faithful servant of God for all of her lifetime.

Virginia Williams French went to be with the lord on April 24th, 2023, at her home in Avinger, Texas. She was surrounded by the family that loved her so dearly.

Virginia was preceded in death by her parents, Osie and Josephine. Brothers; Joel, Paul and Daniel. And by her son, Robbie.

She is Survived by Brothers, Jay and John. Sisters, Mary and Sarah. Daughter, Debbie. Son, Mark Wayne. And by Numerous Grandchildren and great Grandchildren.