Virginia Wooten Rush

Virginia Wooten Rush was born June 18, 1961 in Dallas, Texas to Frankie Cooks and Donald Hicks, and was later cared for throughout her life by her adoptive grandparents, Reverend Abbie and Virginia Lewis in Dallas, Texas.

Virginia came to know Christ at a young age as a member of Warren Avenue Christian Church. For more than 20 years, she has served as a faithful member of the Inspiring Body of Christ (IBOC) Baptist Church, under the pastoral care of Rickie Rush.

She attended South Oak Cliff High School before achieving her general equivalency degree and later graduated from Rutledge of Dallas Business College. Virginia worked in a number of professions over the years; however, her entrepreneurial spirit is what is to be remembered most. Having trained alongside her grandfather, Reverend Abbie Lewis, Virginia mastered the skill of cane and wicker restoration and assumed primary responsibility for the family’s business, Cane & Wicker Palace. The dynamic duo were well known in the field and have been recognized in the local Dallas press for their creative and intricate work.

The latter years of life for Virginia were spent making her personal dreams come true. After having successfully raised four children (and adopted another) and serving as the primary caretaker of her beloved grandparents, she moved into her dream home – better known as “The Big House” – and increased her focus on helping the children who need it most. She was the owner of Palace1 Therapeutic Ranch and the Palace Art Day Hab for Handicapped & Disabled Children. Over the years, she was a foster parent to countless children – lovingly known as GiGi – and incorporated her small ranch, caring for animals and the beauty of art into the therapeutic care that she offered. Ultimately, she wished to own a ranch that would allow her to magnify the number of children who could be helped in this unique way.

Virginia was direct and outspoken while also being extremely giving, supportive, encouraging and a loud mouthpiece for Christ. To know Virginia was to understand her belief and unwavering faith. “God’s got me” was her immediate response to any problem and her praise for every blessing, and to see her life and all that she overcame shows the truth of that statement. She lived a life filled with joy and laughter and carried that with her wherever she went.

Virginia is preceded in death by her biological parents: Frankie Cooks and Donald Hicks; adoptive grandparents: Abbie Lewis and Virginia Lewis; and brother Mark Hicks. She married her long-time love and friend, Donald Rush, in November 2021, who is left to cherish her memory. She leaves to mourn two daughters: Tamika Hicks-Tubbs (Milecester) and D’wana Jefferson (Kenyatta); three sons: Arnell Jones, Armond Jones and Logan Wooten; 12 grandchildren: Miles, Keyana, Breanna, Kennedy, Leah, Jada, Harmony, London, Zoey, Ma’Kya, Armoni and A’Ziya; four sisters: Tanja Webster (Patrick), Vickie Hicks, Donna Hicks and Merna Blair (Richard); three brothers: Curtis Hicks, Reginal Hicks and Vance Hicks; and a host of family, friends and loved ones.