Virginia Balfour

Virginia French Balfour was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on March 5, 1931. She is one of two children of William A. French and Rachel Parsons French. Some of her fondest childhood memories were spending time with her brother at their uncle's house in Glenshaw, PA. She reminisced of big family meals there and the row of magnificent japanese magnolias in full bloom. Her family eventually moved to Miami where she graduated from high school. As a student at Florida State University, she was a member of Delta Zeta sorority and pursued a degree in Voice. During her years at FSU, she was hired as a mezzo-soprano soloist for the choir at St Thomas Episcopal church.
This job would change the course of her life since it was in the choir where she met her future husband, R.C. Balfour III (Bob) and his parents, R. C. Balfour Jr. and Deborah, the beloved organist and choir director. Virginia was invited to lunch at the Balfours after church on Sundays and this is where their romance began. After graduating from FSU, Virginia went to New York City to pursue a singing career. She sang in various choirs and worked in shops to support herself until Bob traveled by train to ask for her hand and bring her back to Thomasville. Over the years she would say that New York was exciting, but all she ever wanted was to be married and have a family. Virginia frequently proclaimed that her five children were her proudest accomplishment. She and her husband celebrated their 70th anniversary in March of this year.
As a busy mother and homemaker, Virginia was still able to be an active member of the Thomasville community. She was a devout member of St.Thomas Episcopal church for 53 years where she sang in the choir and served on the vestry for many years. She was president of the St. Thomas Episcopal Church Women and of the Episcopal Church Women of the Diocese of Georgia. In 2006 they helped establish Trinity Anglican Church where she served on the altar guild and enjoyed teaching new members about this ministry. She also gave generously of her time to Archbold Hospital where she served as Hospital Auxiliary President, a "pink lady," and was instrumental in taking the gift shop to the next level. She was a member of the Junior Service League and starred in their annual "Follies" productions where her professionally trained voice added luster to the show. In 1990, the Thomasville Chamber of Commerce honored Virginia as "Woman of the Year," and in 1992, she received the Paul Harris Award for community leadership from the Rotary Club. She was a girl scout leader and volunteered at the Thomas County Food Bank for 15 years. A child of the Depression, she was frugal, skeptical of possessions, and always astonished at her material comforts. Her deep faith in her Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ was unwavering and she studied the Bible on a daily basis.
Virginia was a strong moral role model for her children and practiced stringent restrictions on TV time, sodas and "empty calories." Though she typically downplayed her own intellectual gifts, she was highly intelligent and well-read. She was a firm enforcer of church on Sundays, even on vacation, unless you were gravely ill. Bad grammar was consistently corrected. When her children asked a question on any topic, she would say "go look it up in the encyclopedia." As a passionately devoted wife, she put in endless hours editing and advising her husband as he wrote books.

Virginia is survived by her loving husband, R. C. Balfour III and her five children: Bob Balfour (Vicki) of Thomasville; M. Virginia Balfour (Laurel) of Asheville, NC; Deborah B. Crabtree (Tommy) of Asheville, NC; David Balfour (Linda) of Thomasville and Charles Balfour (Shannon) of Thomasville. She is also survived by grandchildren: Lindsay Balfour Durfee (Ryan) of Orlando FL; Thomas Balfour Crabtree (fiance` Lauren) of Nashville, TN; Rachel Hunter Crabtree of Asheville NC; Natalie Brooke Balfour of Thomasville; Stephanie Balfour Dean (Travis) of Athens, GA; Charles Andrew Balfour, Jr. (Melanie) of Thomasville; Christian Hayes Balfour of San Diego, CA and Honey Balfour of Charlotte, NC. Her great-grandchildren: Flynn Cooper Durfee and Violet Grace Durfee of Orlando, FL; Kurt Lawson Balfour, Jay Christian Balfour, and step-great grandchildren, Jax and Kylie Woods, all of Thomasville. Her nieces: Jeanne Marie French and Elspeth Ann French of Atlanta, and Leo Novik of Atlanta, husband of her late niece, Carol. She was predeceased by her parents, her brother, William French, and her niece, Carol French Novik. Virginia felt so blessed to have Ann B. Delaney and Wayne Bullock in her life. Bob and Virginia ate lunch with them every day for the past several years. She considered them family.

There will be a gathering for family and friends Friday, September 29th, 5-6:30pm, at the family residence, 112 Plantation Drive, Thomasville. The funeral service will be held at Trinity Anglican Church, 325 West Jackson Street, Thomasville, on Saturday, September 30th at 2pm. A private burial for family only will take place after the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Altar Guild of Trinity Anglican Church, 325 West Jackson Street, Thomasville GA 31792