Virginia Vernell Majette

Virginia Vernell Foster Caine Majette was born on September 6, 1922 in Richmond, Virginia, to the late Mary Foster Hocker. Virginia was called "Gin" by her baby sister Mary, (who preceded her in death) when she was a little girl, and that name caught on. Henceforth, all of her family and friends called her "Gin and Granny Boo." The exceptions were her children; they called her "mom." The one exception of the children was Phyllis who called her mother "Gin" to the end. Virginia joined Providence Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia at an early age where she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. The family moved to Orange, NJ when Virginia was at an early age, where she attended grade school. She later moved to New York with her family attended and graduated from Morris High School in the Bronx, New York. Virginia had five children. Three daughters, Phyllis Washington, Virginia Diane Pieter and Gretchen Mitchell; and two sons, George, and Stephen Caine who both preceded her in death. Her children were the love of her life. She was devastated when she lost both of her sons so close together. Virginia met and married, her loving soulmate, William Majette in 1973, and she became a homemaker. William, like her sister Mary also preceded her in death. Virginia was employed by Metropolitan Hospital, in New York City for 16 years as a Nursing Assistant. Very soon after Virginia was employed, she was promoted to the position of supervisor in the pediatric nursery play room.' She loved that position. Virginia enjoyed life and loved to dance and have fun; during her young Bobby Sox years, when she lived in New York City, she was a regular dancer at the Savoy Ballroom, at 596 Lenox Avenue, in Harlem. There she won several Swing Dancing Contest Prizes while Stomping at the Savoy' doing the Jitter Bug and the Lindy Hop while dancing to the live music of Count Basie, Lester Young, Duke Ellington, Chick Webb, Coleman Hawkins and many other famous musicians. Virginia was as avid reader also, she could read an Erskine Caldwell Novel in 24 hours. She has probably read all of Caldwell's novels. She especially recounted "Tobacco Road." After Virginia married William they left New York and lived in Virginia for a short time, until William's untimely death. She then moved to Philadelphia and opened a Children's Day Care Center in her home. After three years of being the owner-operator of the Children's Day Care she decided to close her business, and lend her experience to the Philadelphia School District, where she was employed in their Head Start Program for 7 years. Then she retired fully in 1999 and moved to Houston, Texas, to be close to her youngest daughter, Gretchen. When Virginia lived in Philadelphia she was active in her community, serving as treasurer for the 2900 Block North 24 Street Block Committee. She especially loved to visit Atlantic City and stroll on the Board Walk to observe the sites and breathe in the fresh salt sea air. However, Virginia's family was her favorite focal point; she kept up with what everyone was doing with their lives. She loved every one of them. Virginia leaves to cherish her memory: Daughters Phyllis Washington (Philadelphia, PA), Virginia Diane Pieter , spouse Jerry Goodine (Warner Robbins, GA.), Gretchen Mitchell, spouse Jeffrey Mitchell (Houston, TX), Daughter in-laws Evelyn Williams (New Rochelle, NY) and Marie Caine (Hampton, VA). Two step sons, Walter White (Houston, TX) and Al Majette (Virginia). Her favorite first cousins were Regina and Coleman Holmes (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania). There are eight grand-children, Dakota Holman (Victor), Marta Gore (Charles), Vanessa Caine, Shaun Pieter, Leslie Berry (Aubrey), Jimi Mitchell, Stephanie Tatum, Schneque Allen (Marcus), 20 great grand-children, ten great, great grand-children and a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends that she leaves to mourn her loss. Virginia lived a long lovely, joyful, magical life, and left a wonderful everlasting legacy.