Virginia-Lee Atkins, age 42, died in Greenville Memorial Hospital May 29, 2015. A 1990 graduate of Hendersonville High School, Virginia-Lee was a member of the International Thespian Society and received The YMCA 1,000 Hours Volunteer Service Award in 1989. She was on the Dance Company at Pat’s School of Dance.

Virginia-Lee attended the College of Charleston for two years and then went on to serve in the United States Army. During her service at The Defense Language Institute in Monterey, Calif. she became a Russian linguist. Following her honorable discharge, Virginia-Lee attended Western Carolina University and graduated with a B.S. in biology and an MBA from the graduate school where she was a member of Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society.

Family was most important to Virginia-Lee growing up and as she settled into her own family in Greer, S.C. Virginia-Lee laboriously contributed her talents to her family’s apple business throughout her life. Just as she did in the family business, she pursued her academic and managerial positions tenaciously.

Virginia-Lee had a wonderful ability to keep work and family life light and fun. She would brighten anyone’s day with her great sense of humor and her hilarious antics. Loved by children, Virginia-Lee kept them enthralled with her tall tales and always gave them the most. Virginia-Lee’s personality could best be described as spirited, fun, caring, blithesome and vivacious.

Virginia-Lee is survived by her husband, James Henderson; two step-daughters, Laurel and Lindsay Henderson; her parents, Lee and Carolyn Atkins; a brother, Alexander Atkins; a sister, Robin Wierzbicki (Ryan); aunt and uncle, Kay and Adolph Atkins; aunt, Sharon van Dijck; great aunt Norma Atkins; two nephews, Robert Atkins and Edmund Wierzbicki; one niece, Julianna Wierzbicki; and many cousins.
Memorials and condolences may be sent to 1345 Ozone Dr., Saluda, NC 28773. The family will be designing a memorial garden on the family farm. There will be a memorial service at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 5, 2015. The memorial service will be held at The Church of The Transfiguration, located at 72 Charles St. in Saluda, N.C.

 

Petty Funeral Home & Crematory
Landrum, S.C.