Virginia Cherry Obituary

Dr. Virginia Neaves Rose Cherry, 81, of Stony Creek, Virginia, entered eternal rest on September 29, 2025. She was a gentle, generous person, and both a lifelong learner and an enthusiastic educator. Musical like her mother, she sang and played both piano and organ. Social groups were opportunities for her to genuinely connect with and generously serve others. A Petersburg Rotarian, she lived the motto “Service Above Self”. As much as she loved humankind, dogs were her dearest companion, and she and her husband both developed lasting bonds with their pets.

“Ginny” pursued personal and professional excellence throughout her education and career, first competing with her two older brothers for the most A’s in primary school while growing up on a farm in rural Southside Virginia. She earned her B.A. from The College of William and Mary in 1966, studying education and government, and served as President of the Phi Mu Fraternity for two years. While obtaining her Master of Liberal Arts (M.Ln. 1979) at Emory University, she met and married her husband, a fellow student. At West Georgia College, she directed both the Teaching Materials Center and Test Center and served as the faculty advisor for the Phi Mu Fraternity, voted outstanding chapter by the National Phi Mu Fraternity, and received the outstanding faculty advisor award for her service. In the 1990s, Dr. Cherry returned home to Virginia to become the Director of the Library of Richard Bland College. In 1999, she achieved her Ph.D. from Virginia Commonwealth University, where she was voted the outstanding scholar in her Doctor of Public Administration program. She authored a book on public administration with an emphasis on librarianship and completed her dissertation on “The Effect of Library Automation at Richard Bland College,” tracking and concluding that student use of the library increased because of rapid technological advances, improved access to computers, and online catalogues. She was especially proud of her election as State President of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, an honorary organization for women educators. In her retirement, she continued giving to the causes closest to her heart, loved her many dogs, and enjoyed social visits at the Petersburg Country Club.

She was preceded in death by her devoted husband of 49 years, Dr. Robert Cherry; her oldest brother Thomas H. Rose, Jr.; her sister-in-law Margaret Rose; her cousin Lita Ridley; and her parents Thomas and Virginia Rose. 

She is survived by her older brother, Archer Riddick Rose (Marsha); sister-in-law, Cherie Alley; nieces, Lanyi Alley, and Olivia Alley Ortega (Nicholas), Carrie Rose Pace (Jason); nephew, A.R. Randall Rose, Jr. (Leigh) and great-nephew, Branton R. Rose. She is also survived by many beloved sorority sisters from Delta Kappa Gamma, and Jane Williams who has been steadfast in her friendship and frequent visits. The family expresses their deep appreciation for the entire care team at The Crossings of Ironbridge for their dedicated and kind care of Dr. Cherry the past several years.

The family will host a brief graveside memorial service on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at Grace Church Purdy, at 9986 Purdy Road, Jarratt, Virginia 23867.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to one of these causes close to Dr. Cherry’s heart: The Library of Virginia, the Delta Kappa Gamma International Society Scholars, c/o Treasurer Ann Lewis, 7075 Bagpipe Ln, King George, VA 22485, and the McShin Foundation.