Virginia Willett Justis

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Mrs. Virginia Willett Justis, 95, of Lee Mont, wife of the late Ralph E. Justis, passed away June 4, 2021, at Shore Health and Rehabilitation Center in Parksley.

Born Oct. 16, 1925, she was the daughter of the late Harry T. and Myrtle Killmon Willett, of Lee Mont. Virginia graduated from Parksley High School in 1945 and married Ralph E. Justis after he returned from Pearl Harbor a few years later. In between that time, she had worked as a “Rosie Riveter” at Langley Base repairing damaged planes. She then married Ralph and lived in Clam, where her son, Judson Justis, was born. After her daughter, Debra, was born, they moved to Lee Mont, where they built a bungalow next to her parents.

She parented her kids and worked at and managed The Two Brothers Pharmacy in Mappsville and Onancock. She was a member of the Eastern Star in Temperanceville and Onancock. She, Betty Lewis, and others then made the Parksley Eastern Star part of the Parksley Masonic Lodge, where at one time she served as the Worthy Matron of Parksley Chapter #166.

Although she only stood 4’9” tall, she might as well have been 10’ tall. She believed that if you believed in the Lord, no one, no matter how big, could hurt you. As a member of both St. Thomas and Guilford United Methodist Churches, she helped in any way she could alongside her mother, Myrtle.

While Dad protected his Queen (Debra), Virginia made sure Judd didn’t get extra spankings because of his sister. Her little 4’9” self was like David against Goliath. When you messed with her family, especially her son, you better bring your A-game.

After being pecked numerous times by her grandfather’s best rooster and her father telling her to go get the eggs anyway; she said fine, went straight to the smokehouse, got a hatchet and entered the pen again. As she entered the pen, the rooster started for her again and she told the rooster, “I’ve got something for you this time!” The rooster came at her again, so she cut it’s head off, got the eggs and brought the rooster and the eggs back to the house. From then on, her grandfather called her “The Hell Kat!”

She was a loving and nurturing Mom and nobody could mess with her man or her kids. As they say, “The rooster might crow, but the hen runs the roost!” Even though she was a kind and caring person, she could be a force to be reckoned with.

Virginia is survived by her son, Durwin Judson Justis, of Melfa; grandchildren, Jessica Rachelle Justis, Jason Hall, and Jedrik Nathan Hall; and numerous great-grandchildren.
Other than her parents, she was preceded in death by husband and her daughter, Debra Yvonne Justis.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, June 9, 2021, at 2 p.m., from the Thornton Funeral Home in Parksley with Pastor Mark Layne officiating. Interment will follow in the Liberty Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Arrangements are by the Thornton Funeral Home in Parksley, VA.

To sign the guest book online, visit: www.thorntonfuneralhome.net
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