Virginia “Ginger” Jeanette Richards passed away peacefully in her home in Seneca, South Carolina, at the age of 78.
Ginger, Mom, Nana will be lovingly remembered as dear wife of Jim Richards, mother to Marjorie (Colin Bucknor) and Sara (Josh Jones) and Nana to Morgan (Kevin Boucher), Audrey, Simon, Toby, Isaiah, Silas, Zechariah, and Jasper. She was the loving sister to Bob (Jeanne) and Bill White (Karen); Bob is the only surviving sibling.

Ginger was born in Des Moines, Iowa, on May 28, 1945, and attended college at Drake University where she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. She met the love of her life, United States Navy Captain (ret.) James “Jim” Richards, at a friend’s wedding in 1966 and they married in October 1967. They moved to Richmond, Virginia, after Jim served a tour in Vietnam and joined the Naval Reserve. Ginger resided in Richmond for almost 30 years where she was a member of St. Giles Presbyterian Church. She retired to Gwynn’s Island in Mathews, Virginia, and became a member of Kingston Parish Episcopal Church. While living in Mathews, Ginger was elected to the County School Board where she served for several years; remaining a positive force for the public education system. She moved to Seneca in 2019 to be closer to family.

Ginger was musically talented—playing piano and singing beautifully in various church choirs and singing groups over the years. She also had a passion for education. While working full-time as a teacher and raising daughters, Marjorie and Sara, she went to graduate school at the Virginia Commonwealth University and obtained her Master’s degree in Special Education. She had a passion for children who had learning disabilities and special needs. She tutored children and created learning plans that considered each child’s specific learning styles and challenges. She never gave up her love of music. She continued singing in church choirs and also spent years teaching piano and giving singing lessons.
She spent a lifetime supporting philanthropic causes such as the Joslin Diabetes Center and the P.E.O. Sisterhood, a U.S.-based international women’s organization. Ginger was a 50+ year member of P.E.O. that has a primary focus on providing educational scholarships for women worldwide. She most recently was a member of P.E.O. Chapter I in Seneca.

Ginger had a passion for the Lord and was an example to her family of the importance of the study of scripture, prayer and church attendance which has born fruit in the spiritual lives of her immediate family and grandchildren. To the end, she expressed her love and faith in God and passed peacefully with her immediate family members around her during an informal communion and prayer service. We were blessed to be able to spend her last days together and while she is deeply missed, we are at peace knowing she is with the Lord and we will see her again.

A memorial service for Ginger will be held at Kingston Parish Episcopal Church, Christ Church, 320 Williams Wharf Road, Mathews, Virginia, at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 18. In lieu of flowers, Ginger requested that donations be sent to Joslin Diabetes Center, a Harvard Medical School Affiliate: Joslin Diabetes Center, One Joslin Place, Boston, Mass. 02215.