Virginia Estelle Pilato Maddox

Virginia Estelle Pilato Maddox

Our Beloved Mother,

Grandmother, Sister,

Aunt & Friend

31 March 1929––11 November 2019

––Glendale, California, 11 November 2019, 12:01 p.m.

The beautiful soul of Virginia Estelle Pilato Maddox, at the above moment, ever-so-gently rose from the embrace of her earthly family and returned to the loving arms of her Father in Heaven, Brother Jesus Christ, and the love of her life––Lewis Garland Maddox––following a remarkably full and colorful 90 years. [Her birth on 31 March 1929, marked the first year of the Great Depression––and although she may not have been born into wealth––she always found herself rich in love.] She was also embraced by her blessed mother Mary “Big Mama” Giangrosso Pilato Trotter, and her precious Great-grand parents Giacomo and Maria Robino Giangrosso, and countless numbers of adoring family, friends, and angels. It was a magnificent reunion befitting an absolutely wonderful life filled with love, forgiveness, and charity. (See 1 Corinthians 13.)

Due to causes related to a hip replacement that occurred in 2013, Virginia suffered untold pain before and since then. And yet, her valiant strength, fortitude, long-suffering, patience, and extreme gratitude shined brightly through everything she accomplished in life. She possessed unparalleled beauty, passion, kindness, and forgiveness. She mirrored her Savior’s love thru the love she selflessly poured upon her four daughters––and all whom she met––even up to last weeks of her life here on earth. In those last excruciating days, she was surrounded by her girls, many of their loved ones, and her sister Norma. Collectively, they tenderly loved her back to heaven.

Special shout out to all who comforted Virginia in these last weeks, especially to her sons-in-law Scott Milano, Lee Roderick, and John Prather; former-grandson-in-law Eddy Perez; grandsons Michael Milano, Matthew and Eric Roderick, and Jesse Prather; nephews Brian Camden and Jerry Pilato; granddaughters Astra Prather, Kim Maycock, Niki Coker, and in particularly, C.C. Egan and Laura Milano; and so many others who “visited” via phone calls, texts, notes, prayers, and social media. Virginia received “top-shelf” tender care from an army of experts at, most recently, Glendale Adventist and Queen of the Valley Hospitals; and also during the numerous other seasons of discomfort over these many years. A favorite resident for the last five years, the staff at Beacon Health Care Center in West Covina wept for the loss of Virginia’s one-of-a-kind graciousness toward each one of them. Bar none.

Known for her good humor, beauty, sassy and frank talk, and demeanor, Virginia interacted with and counted as friends a wide range of people from all walks of life from presidents and vice-presidents of the United States, to movie moguls and celebrities, to journalists, doctors, lawyers; to coal miners and maintenance workers. Virginia left a trail of admirers wherever she went. Her daughters remember when she would extend her hand to feed “hobos” who often came to the door of her home in Birmingham, Alabama. Her outreach knew no bounds. She accepted all in her path: even in the last season of her life. Forgiveness and generosity is her trademark––as she follows her Savior with exactness into the eternities.

Her charm touched all she met and her individual extensions of sincere gratitude reached into the hearts of all who were blessed to know her. Legendary stories of Virginia will be shared by those who have been embraced by her love and have witnessed her joy of life. She will continue to impact for good generations to come.

Virginia is the granddaughter of Italian immigrants. Born in Birmingham, Alabama to Mary and Giuseppe “Joe” Pilato, she loved the deep South and yet has enjoyed her “new home” in Hollywood, California for the last 40 years. [Her first invitation to Southern California was extended by noted Hollywood makeup artist Bud Westmore in the 1950s, when he was on a model search in her home state. Virginia’s high cheekbones, full lips, luscious light-olive complexion, and voluptuous curves mesmerized the legendary artist when in her mid-twenties. Westmore begged the young beauty to come to Hollywood to rival Sophia Loren and Gina Lollobrigida, but she sacrificed that rare opportunity to nurture her two young daughters, at that time, and love on her sweetheart Garland. Her time lighting up the West Coast had not yet arrived.]

She inherited a love for dance, and with brothers Sam and Jack and uncle Norman, would enter many contests. Her extraordinary beauty, form, and skills always won top prize as her partner would hoist her

in the air, and swing her with gusto, even between his legs. All the while she would smile that beautiful “Hollywood-and-then-some” smile, melting the judges in their chairs. [True to form, Virginia, scraped with great sacrifice to enroll all her young daughters in dance, to honor her mother and grandmother who also loved the art.]

Garland––as handsome as she is beautiful––is the love of her life; they lived lives full of love, passion, and laughter. The couple eloped when Virginia was 17 and he 18. When they walked onto a ballroom floor, into a church, or anywhere their remarkable good looks would stop the room, all heads would turn toward them, many jaws dropping. In their early years, he served as a medic in the US Navy during the Korean War. After he received an honorable discharge, Garland came home and became a foreman at JW Bullock Steel Company.

A model homemaker in every sense of the word, Virginia honed her skills in cooking, sewing, crafts, and art classes for decades. She, her mother, friends, and relatives knew how to “pinch pennies” by frequenting the local “farmers markets” to buy large bushels of corn, tomatoes, okra, pears, and other produce to can and jam, to “lay up” for winter storage. She kept an immaculate home and would boast “you can eat off my floors.” She could often be found on her hands and knees ensuring every square inch was up to par for the four sets of tiny feet that would dance upon them. The little girls would enjoy “riding the buffer” as she polished those floors so bright you could see your face in them.

True to her faith, Virginia ensured her daughters attend private Catholic schools for them to learn to lead lives close to their Savior, especially during an environment of racial hatred in the deep South’s 1960’s. Those little girls would learn to live lives of love, acceptance, and “color-blindness” to all who would cross their paths for the rest of their lives. And although these schools had a price tag on them, she made every sacrifice to insist they were able to enter those doors, beautifully uniformed, to live their lives a master stair-case higher than what she was given–– having been born in the decade of the Great Depression. True to her poise, neither she nor her young ones ever stepped out of her home, without hat, purse, gloves in crisp, perfect vogue-beauty on a miniscule budget. How she did do that on an annual salary of $3000-$5000? ––Purely Miraculous.

As the girls got older, and their needs more pricey, Virginia had the vision for her and Garland to become entrepreneurs in the auto, real estate, and music industries. They booked big-name and local musicians around Alabama by night. Garland would conduct auto business by day, while Virginia continued to nurture her daughters at home; and juggle their real estate investments.

In the mid-60’s Virginia encouraged first born Mary Jean, then in her teens, to become a “Blue Bird” (similar to a Candy-Striper) volunteer at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Birmingham. [Mary Jean later got her (PHT––“Putting Hubby Thru”) as husband John Prather became a doctor in chemistry via the University of Alabama. The couple gave Virginia three outstanding grandchildren: Astra, Jesse, and Chase; among them they have given “BeBop” three adorable great-grandchildren.]

This was about the time her third-born daughter, Darlene, entered an international pageant. At age 8 she became “Little Miss Universe for the State of Alabama.” Virginia travelled with little Darlene to Miami, Florida for the worldwide event. [About 10 years later beautiful Darlene was chosen by River Boat Captain John Gautier to be his “first mate,” when on bended knee he asked her hand in marriage. The couple later gave BeBop four gorgeous grandbabies: Destin, Danielle, Dominique “Niki”, and Daphne. Darlene is now a successful small business leader and entrepreneur in south Alabama.]

It was now 1969. Virginia and Garland grew apart––but their love for one another never did. [She held his hand in his last days in September 1996––and knows she will be together with him in the eternities and that, “Heaven will be Heaven––only when he is by my side––forever.”]

Virginia expanded upon her genius, in the early 1970’s, into the food and beverage industry. She founded and built the “Aquarian Age” lounge in Birmingham; and other venues in south Alabama and northern Florida––in partnership with early-tech developer Maynard Mann. Later she branched out into the publishing industry, by leading advertising campaigns for “This Week in Mobile” and “This Week in Pensacola” magazines.

In the mid-1970’s Virginia was again begged to shout, “Hooray for Hollywood”––this time with great success, to assist with film and television casting. The West Coast would never be the same. Her astounding charm, beauty, and wit wowed the formidable industry. She simply could open doors and studio gates when they were shut to others. “Lynn Mann” (Virginia’s stage name), became a modern-day Zsa Zsa Gabor as she charmed movie execs with her southern magic and was often found in front of and behind the cameras for a host of productions. A true personality in every sense of the word, Hollywood was made for Lynn and Lynn was made for Hollywood.

She traveled the world with international star, producer, and entertainer Troy Cory and his wife Josie of Television International magazine and productions. The trio toured the world and were invited to Washington D.C. to attend President Ronald Reagan’s inaugural, by her second-daughter Yvonne, who was a leader in the president’s 1980 election campaign. [Yvonne later married journalist Lee Roderick. The two have given BeBop six outstanding grandchildren: Angie, Eric, Justin, Kim, Matthew, and C.C. Among them, they have given “The Bop” eight beautiful great-grand-children, and one great-great grandchild.]

At the young age of 60, in 1989, Virginia was involved in an almost-fatal auto accident, which required numerous operations. Bones on her left side were crushed, damaging her hip [the latter of which required three replacement surgeries over the next 30 years.] Not long after the crash, she tested positive for cancer––undergoing years of painful therapies––and yet has enjoyed remission for 20 years.

Her California family, headed by youngest daughter Valerie and her devoted husband Scott Milano, shepherded Virginia through scores of treatments, major and minor operations, and procedures; not to mention conducting most if not all her financial affairs to date. [Valerie, a professional fashion model, is owner of The Hollywood Times magazine. Scott is a real estate and recording executive, music and sports aficionado, and restaurant entrepreneur. The couple have given Virginia (aka “G.G.”) Michael and Laura

––two talented grandchildren who are in the music and film industries.

Virginia’s entire extended family praise Valerie, Scott, Michael, and Laura for the countless hours of selfless service, stellar support, and constant compassion poured upon our beloved matriarch for decades.]

Blessed Sacrament Church has been Virginia’s parish for over 40 years. She especially loved the company of the late Reverend Michael Mandala, SJ; and more recently, Father Michael Tang, SJ. In her early years as a young mother, she received guidance from the late Father Edward L. Foster of the Birmingham Diocese; the man who baptized her love, Garland, into the Catholic Church in 1951––and officially blessed their union thereafter.

Other religious and lay teachers extended loving support to Virginia her whole life––notably when as a very young child she was placed into St. Thomas on the Hill Orphanage in Birmingham. In the middle of The Depression, her mother, Mary was unable to financially tend to little Virginia and her younger brother, Jack. The years at St. Thomas affected Virginia for the rest of her life. As a result, she became a real-life Scarlet O’Hara when she vowed “I (and my children) will never go hungry (again).” She lived that vow with zest, confidence, beauty, extraordinary hard work, and tenacity, all which were fully evident until she took her soft and grateful last breath at 12:01 p.m. on Monday, 11 November 2019. Although her health had declined as a result of a medical challenges, she remained a great example of strength, love, forgiveness, and gratitude––virtues which each one in her family takes upon themselves this day to mirror––as they call on their guiding angel-mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. They know she is with them this very moment––and every moment of their eternities to come.

Virginia was preceded in death by her parents, husband Garland, brothers Jack and Sam Pilato, step-father Fred Trotter, and many other loving family members. She is survived by her sister Norma Eileen Trotter (Bill) Camden, brother Frederick David (Gaye) Trotter; her daughters Mary Jean (John) Prather; Yvonne (Lee) Roderick; Darlene (John) Gautier; Valerie (Scott) Milano; 15 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild––as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and countless friends.

On Saturday, November 23, a viewing will be held at Noon followed by a Mass at Blessed Sacrament Church, 6657 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90028––A light reception will follow on the church’s patio. Burial will be held on Sunday, November 24, from 1-3 p.m. at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, 6000 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90038. Reception to follow burial at the home of Scott and Valerie Maddox Milano––RSVP via text: 213.507.0669. Special thanks to Ed Brail and the staff at Glendale Funeral Home––for their tender care of our wonderful matriarch Virginia. For more information, go to https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries

In lieu of flowers, donations will be distributed to give to her favorite charities, which are: Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Glendale Adventist Hospital, Beacon Health Care, and the American Cancer Society. Please send your gift in her name to:

Virginia Estelle Pilato Maddox

P.O. Box 2989

Los Angeles, CA 90078-2989.

SPECIAL NOTE: Each one of us thank you for your valiant participation in the wonderful life and memory of Virginia Estelle Pilato Maddox, we appreciate the effect-for-good each of you have had on her exemplary life.

We know, for the rest of your lives on this earth and for all eternity, thoughts of her will touch you for good. We also know THAT IS her heart’s desire. May we all make that dream come true by loving all who come into our path, with great kindness, forgiveness, gratitude, and the joy of life as she gave to each one of us. She lives in all of us who love her, and those she loves.

With love,

The Maddox Girls aka “BeBop’s Girls”

Mary Jean

Yvonne

Darlene

Valerie

and

Norma

P.S.: From Grandson Michael “You’re a Good Boy” Milano:

“ … [G.G.] was the oldest member, and truly the matriarch of our entire family. There isn't a single one of us who didn't look up to her with the fondest admiration, and the strongest amount of love one could possibly give. She is, without a doubt, the strongest person any one of us has ever met, and has the biggest and strongest heart of any single person I have personally ever known. Her deep love and appreciation for the arts, especially music, is an absolutely huge reason why I still create music for a living to this day. She went by so many names, Virginia, Bebop, G.G., but we will all remember her as the most loving, kind, and caring soul that this universe has ever seen. You will live through all of us, and ALWAYS be in our thoughts, hearts, and memories for the rest of time.

We love you forever G.G.”