Virginia Ann Alvis

Born on July 6, 1937 in Athens, West Virginia, she was the daughter of the late John Alfred and Bernice Alvis. She was a graduate of Athens High School, earned her undergraduate degree from Concord College, and completed her master’s degree at Virginia Tech. She lived most of her life in beautiful Abingdon, Virginia. Ginny believed in the Community College mission; teaching was her passion. She was a professor at Virginia Highlands Community College for more than thirty years, and her students and fellow faculty members were her extended family. After she retired from teaching, she built on her life-long love of art, making beautiful notecards, writing a children’s book, and developing two children’s card games that she enjoyed selling at local craft shows and art stores. Ginny will be remembered for the many Christmas stockings that she knitted for her friends and family, her delicious shortbread Christmas cookies, her legendary Halloween costumes, and her themed experimental dinners. She was an avid reader who especially enjoyed Appalachian literature and WWII historical novels. She was very honored to be a member of the Abingdon Baptist Church and the Daughters of the American Revolution, Black’s Fort Chapter. Whether you knew her as Virginia Ann, Ms. Alvis, Ginny, or Gigi you know that she was a big personality with a wonderful laugh and a quick wit.

She is preceded in death by four step brothers: Parker, Blake, Bob, and Ronnie Alvis and five step sisters: Ruby Workman, Louise Bolton, Margaret McPherson, Dixie Bolin, and Mildred Walls.

Ginny is survived by Jerry Alvis, her brother, and his wife Martha of Princeton, West Virginia; Jodie Bandholz, her only child and Justin Bandholz, her son-in-law; and her three grandchildren: Katherine, Andrew, and Julia Bandholz all of Apex, North Carolina whom she dearly loved.

Ginny was fiercely independent and opinionated. It was her wish that instead of a memorial service, her ashes be spread in the mountains of Virginia. Her daughter will honor her wishes.