Virginia Steele Watson

With profound love and sadness, we announce the passing of Virginia Kay “Ginger” Steele Watson, who died peacefully on June 19th, 2025, at the age of 85. Known to all simply as “Ginger,” she lived a life filled with grace, warmth, and quiet strength.

Born in Gary, Indiana, on October 15, 1939, Ginger was the daughter of Margaret Vanya and George Weldon Steele. She was raised in both Chicago, Illinois and Atlanta, Georgia, and her life reflected the blend of sophistication and Southern hospitality that those cities inspired in her.

Ginger was a proud graduate of North Georgia College (now the University of North Georgia), where she laid the foundation for a lifelong passion for children and education. She later earned a Master’s degree in Child Development from the University of Tennessee, an area of study that inspired and shaped her professional journey. Her professional life included two careers that brought her great joy and purpose: first, as an instructor of Child Development at both the University of Wisconsin and the University of Tennessee, and later, after raising her family, as a reservationist and supervisor at Delta Air Lines. She approached both professions with dedication, kindness, and an eye for detail-qualities that defined every area of her life.

Ginger shared 61 wonderful years of marriage with the love of her life, Robinson “Bob” Rich Watson, who survives her. Throughout their life together, Ginger’s love for Bob was wholehearted and unwavering – she placed him at the center of her world and found true joy in making him happy. Her devotion to him was never more evident than in recent years, as she cared for him at home during his battle with Alzheimer’s, ensuring he was surrounded by comfort, dignity, and love each day.

Ginger was the beloved mother of two children: her daughter Jill Ferguson, son-in-law David Ferguson, and their three children – Mark Steele Ferguson, his wife Lauren Ferguson, and their son Patrick Steele Ferguson, who proudly carries on Ginger’s maiden name; Kristen Ferguson Kopko and her husband Spencer Kopko; and Sean Ferguson. She is also survived by her son David Weldon Watson, daughter-in-law Kim Watson, and their daughters Liz Watson and Abby Watson.

Ginger had a deep and lifelong bond with her sisters, Peggy Blackford and the late Carol Posey (who passed in 2022). The three shared not only a strong family connection, but also a friendship full of warmth, laughter, and constant support. Ginger also enjoyed a close and meaningful relationship with her sister-in-law, Willie Salih. When they moved to the area, they were blessed to live nearby for the past 17 years, allowing their bond to grow and deepen into a true sisterhood filled with love and support.

Those who knew Ginger will remember her as a gracious lady with a talent for cooking, entertaining, and making a home both elegant and welcoming. An avid antique collector, she loved using her treasured finds to create beautifully set tables, host memorable parties, and infuse her surroundings with charm and character.

Ginger was quick-witted, endlessly optimistic, and never one to complain. She had strong opinions, a clear sense of what she wanted, and a gentle but unmistakable stubborn streak – all of which made her uniquely herself. Her warmth, strength, and presence were a gift to her family and friends, and her absence will be deeply felt.

Her legacy lives on in the love she gave, the family she raised, and the many lives she touched with her kindness, humor, and grace.

A memorial service to celebrate Ginger’s life will be held on Friday, July 25, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Woodlawn Funeral Home, with a reception to follow immediately afterward. All who knew and loved her are warmly invited to attend.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association in Ginger’s memory. Contributions can be made online at www.alz.org/donate or by mail to Alzheimer's Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011.

Ginger was a true dreamer at heart, with a perfectionist’s eye that she used to create beauty in every corner of her life. Her favorite movie, The Sound of Music, holds a lyric that perfectly captures her spirit:

“Climb ev’ry mountain, ford ev’ry stream, follow ev’ry rainbow, ‘till you find your dream.”