She was particularly fond of singing in the church choir before she became ill with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease. Virginia was a life-long professional nurse and health educator. She loved people and enjoyed caring for others. She graduated from Cullowhee High School and went on to hold nursing degrees as an LPN, RN, BS Degree Nurse (Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC), and a Master’s Degree Nurse (Gardner Webb College, Gastonia, NC). 

Over her 40-plus year career, Virginia worked in health care agencies, including hospitals, county health departments, and nursing education institutions as a nurse and nursing supervisor. She also spent many years was a traveling diabetic educator and a nursing instructor at Haywood Community College. Virginia retired from the night supervisor position at Haywood County Hospital where she was highly respected by the many employees who knew and worked under her. Virginia was active in professional nursing associations and contributed to the development and improvement of professional nurses throughout our region. 

Virginia cared deeply about the plight of diabetic children and volunteered for many years as the Infirmary Nurse at Camp Coqui, a summer camp for diabetic children as part of a Memorial Mission Health Program initiative held at Bonclarken Presbyterian Conference Center, Flat Rock, North Carolina. Virginia loved to garden and particularly cultivate blue berries and azaleas. She held a Master Gardner certification. 

Virginia is the daughter of Chris and Emma Lou Fowler Burrell, Tuckasegee, N.C. She is survived by one brother, Frank Burrell (Louise), Sylva, N.C., two sisters: Elizabeth Burrell Balcerek (Jim), Tuckasegee, N.C., and Ann Ahles (Mike), Hendersonville, N.C. Virginia was deeply loved by niece Katherine Balcerek Medlin (Seth), Clinton, Tennessee, and nephews Marc Burrell (Myra), Clayton, N.C., and Christopher Balcerek, (Marta) Palmer, Alaska. She had three great nephews, Matthew Burrell, Jack Balcerek, and James Medlin.