Mrs. Virginia Jennie Parker Calfee

Virginia (Jennie) Parker Calfee, 91, of Tampa, Florida, died peacefully in her sleep Sunday, March 13, 2011. Her husband of 56 years, Carlton Crawford Calfee, precedes her in death.

Born to Mae Strickler and John Thomas Parker in Twin Branch, near Iaeger, West Virginia, April 6, 1919, Jennie was a devoted sister to one brother, Bill Parker, and four sisters: Lucille Alexander, Peg Turner, Gladys Thomas and Alice Haynes, who all precede her in death.

Jennie Parker grew up in West Virginia’s coal mining country (home to the famed Hatfields and McCoys) during the Great Depression and vigorously applied herself to her studies while caring for her younger siblings. She claimed the Lord Jesus Christ as her Savior through the teachings of the Methodist Church and embraced her proud heritage as a Daughter of the American Revolution. Upon graduating from high school, she was admitted to nursing school where she graduated with honors. She trained and worked the surgical unit at St. Luke’s Hospital in Bluefield, West Virginia.

While there, she met and married Crawford Calfee August 15, 1941. At the onset of World War II just four months later, Crawford joined the Army Air Corp as a pilot. Their journey took them to Memphis, where Crawford flew maintenance test flights and shared company with Clark Gable for a short period of time.

The couple was transferred to Miami. As Crawford flew transport missions, Jennie worked the emergency room and surgical suite for Jackson Memorial Hospital Administration. She soon found her way to the Red Cross as a volunteer nurse so she could fly with Crawford. She cared for wounded war fighters during the long North Atlantic flights between Miami and Great Britain.

At war’s end, Crawford (honorably discharged as a First Lieutenant) and Jennie settled in Bridgeport, West Virginia, and soon welcomed daughter Harriet and sons, Carlton and John. Just after relocating to Tampa in 1957, the couple’s 21st move, daughter Amy was born. Together, with the help of a mentor, they founded Hydraulic Machinery Incorporated until 1995.

In the early 70s, the couple moved to Valrico, Florida where they raised horses and cattle. They were active members of First United Methodist Church of Brandon, Buckhorn Country Club, the Egypt Temple Shrine and the Order of the Eastern Star.

For all who knew her, Jennie wore her vivacious personality everywhere and was a friend to all. At 5’3”, she called herself “The Little General” and pursued life from that point of view. She sought to find solutions for those in need or in trouble – if she couldn’t help, she found someone who could. To friends of her children and children of her friends, employees and neighbors, she was known as “Mom” or “Momma C” and she in turn treated them as her adopted children.

She loved extremely, lived passionately, gave generously and expected the best from herself and others. She was feisty, funny, artistic, resourceful, talented, creative and hard working – attributes she imparted on her children. When her children were young, Jennie danced in the Harmony Minstrels presented by the Bridgeport Lions Club and was active in the community. During her children's school years, she renewed her commitment to nursing as a Red Cross volunteer in its “Gray Lady Service” and served as school nurse in almost every school her children attended. This devotion to nursing inspired her niece and namesake, Rebeccah Virginia Thomas Getz of Troy, Virginia, to become a registered nurse.

Not one for sports or social clubs, Jennie gravitated toward gardening, floral design, ceramics and china painting. No holiday was ever left undecorated and no one received a greater gift than a piece of her hand painted china imbued with the flower she had mastered – the “Forget-Me-Not.”

Always ready with an answer or an opinion, Jennie’s sharp whit was both insightful and indelible. While she strove to live up to “never having to say you’re sorry for something you never said,” she was intolerant of braggarts and would ask rhetorically “if you know so much, why don’t you have more to show for it?”

In relationships, Jennie was known to hold a grudge when she felt she had been wronged and never shied away from debate or, under duress, the opportunity to throw a frying pan. Yet, when all was said and done, she gave herself over to the power of forgiveness and recognized “some people are just harder to love.”

When asked about the secret to her 56-year marriage, Jennie simply said: “The war began right after we were married and we lost so many people. Even in the worst of times, leaving is not an option when you’ve lived through the fear the world was going to end.”

“A loving heart that gives a lot has proven you forget me not; your love is the important key that will preserve my memory.” Daughter, sister, niece, aunt, nurse, mother, “Granny,” great grandmother, volunteer, neighbor, friend and little general – we forget you not.

Jennie is survived by her children Harriet Rose (Bob) of Jacksonville, FL; Carlton Calfee (Nancy) and John Calfee (Betty) of Tampa, FL; and Amy Calfee of Jacksonville; grandchildren Emily Rose, Amber Prida (Andres) Robert Rose, Jr. (Katherine), John Rose (Krista), Elizabeth Calfee, Claire Calfee, Jessica Schreiber and Carlee Calfee; great grandchildren Robert Rose, III, Ella Prida, Taylor Rose, Jack Rose, Madison Gainey and Cole Rose.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the

American Red Cross – Tampa Chapter Virginia Parker Calfee Tribute Fund

Online:

Go to www.redcrosstbc.org, click donate now, choose your gift designation and select Tribute Gift. Send an “ecard” to [email protected]

By Mail:

American Red Cross – Tampa Chapter

Virginia Parker Calfee Tribute Fund

3310 W. Main Street

Tampa, FL 33607