Mary Virginia Donaldson Carter

Mary Virginia Donaldson Carter, 104, died peacefully in Austin, Texas, on February 28, 2006, at Westminster Manor . She was born in Lockhart, Texas, on June 30, 1901, the daughter of Mary Fleming Williams Donaldson and Malcolm Montgomery Donaldson. She was named for her mother and for her aunt, Virginia Christian Williams. She studied architecture in 1918 at the University of Texas at Austin, where she became an early member of the University’s Kappa Alpha Theta sorority chapter, maintaining lifelong ties to the organization. She later held management positions in the interior-decorations division at Lord & Taylor’s flagship store in New York City. She was a member of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas (Stephen F. Austin chapter), the Junior League of Austin, Tarry House, and the University Presbyterian Church. During the latter years of her life, she resided at Westminster Manor, receiving excellent care from their very dedicated staff, The Medical Team, and from Asera Care Hospice. Known to many as “Gigi,” she shared her creativity, wisdom, and elegance with all who knew her. She was equally at home in Texas and on the East Coast. She had especially fond memories of her years in Cornish, New Hampshire; her Upper East Side apartment in Manhattan; and her family’s home on Northwood Road in Austin. She transformed each of her dwellings into works of art, favoring her signature color of pale blush. She was preceded in death by her two half-brothers, Dr. Robert B. Morrison and Ralph Morrison. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Verna Mae Morrison of Austin; three stepchildren: Burnham Carter, Jr., of Old Lyme, Connecticut, David L. Carter of Hopewell, New Jersey, and Alison C. Mitchell of Old Lyme, Connecticut; eight step-grandchildren; and the descendants of her cousin and childhood companion, the late Lewis Johnson Root (Mrs. Jesse Albert Root), all residing in Texas: Elizabeth Lewis Root Jones; Caroline Jones; Elizabeth Jones Coffin, her husband Rod Coffin, and their sons, Christopher Coffin and Roderick Coffin III (Gigi’s godson); Carolyn Root Daughtery, Mary Virginia Root Dowdle , Amy Root, and Jesse Root III. Memorial service at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 5, at University Presbyterian Church, where Gigi’s family had worshiped for generations. Rev. San Williams will officiate. Private family burial at the Lockhart City Cemetery in the Williams family plot. Memorial contributions may be made to University Presbyterian Church, 2203 San Antonio, Austin, Texas, 78705; Asera Care Hospice, 1212 Palm Valley, Round Rock, Texas, 78664; or the charity of your choice. Obituary and guestbook on line at wcfish.com