Virginia Henry Smith

Virginia Henry Smith

July 4, 1932 – January 28, 2024

Arlington, Texas – Virginia “Ginnie May” Henry Smith, 91, passed away on Sunday, January 28, 2024, in her home where she had lived for more than thirty years. Virginia was known by all as a loving sister, mother, and grandmother who especially loved children. 

Virginia was born on July 4, 1932 in the Panama Canal Zone to Muriel and James Henry, the first of five children. Virginia spent the first seven years of her life in Andagoya and Mongon, Colombia, where her father was a mining engineer. The family returned to the U.S. in 1939, living in Marion, Kentucky. Her family eventually settled in Oklahoma City, and Virginia graduated from the University of Oklahoma with both a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in social work.

While working in Tulsa, Virginia met Mack Smith when visiting his Sunday School department. They married in 1961 and moved to New Orleans where she and Mack had four children, and Virginia worked for the State of Louisiana childcare licensing department. The family moved to Houston in 1969 where Virginia raised her children and earned extra income for the family by substitute school teaching, taking temporary jobs over the holidays, and teaching swimming classes.

The family moved to Arlington in 1979, and when Virginia’s children grew older, she returned to a career in social work first at Huguley Hospital helping patients transition home from the hospital and then at a group home for young ladies with intellectual disabilities before returning to childcare licensing. Virginia lost her husband, Mack, in 1995 to a heart attack, but soon took on the role of “Gin Gin” to her growing family of grandchildren. Virginia retired from working for the State of Texas childcare licensing in 2002 to spend more time with her grandchildren but continued working part-time as a substitute teacher in Arlington public schools and as a swim teacher for the City of Arlington into her mid-eighties.

Virginia faithfully followed her Lord from a young age and attended First Baptist Church of Arlington for over 40 years.  Virginia enjoyed travelling, including cruise trips with her children and grandchildren, and her brother Jim Henry and sisters Rosemary Hammond Graham and Sara Tollett. She especially enjoyed getting together with the other members of her Sunday School class, book club, senior classes such as painting and creative writing at TCC, and going swimming. She was a member of Altrusa and Alpha Delta Pi. 

Virginia is survived by her four children, David R. Smith of Arlington, Daniel J. Smith and wife, Jillian, of Fort Worth, Michael H. Smith of Arlington, and Rachelle A. Ivanova and husband, Ivan, of Arlington; eight grandchildren, Savanna, Bojil, Tate, Miranda, Evan, Alexander, Callen, and Reed; and sister, Rosemary Hammond Graham and husband, Pat. 

Memorial Service: 1 p.m. Friday, February 9, 2024, at First Baptist Church of Arlington. Burial: Emerald Hills Memorial Park. Memorial gifts may be made to Mission Arlington, the World Wildlife Fund, or the charity of your choice.