Virginia Carleen Johnson Duffey

Virginia passed on in the 2nd hour of April 14th at the age of 96, under the compassionate care of Hospice nurses in Alpharetta, GA. 

She was born at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta to her mother Cecile Erlyne (née DOMINICK) and father Col. Reese Colbert JOHNSON, Defense Attorney in Zebulon, GA.  Virginia grew up with her sister Celeste, in a lively household full of music as their mother was an accomplished musician and taught many students from the area.

Virginia went to Bessie Tift College in Forsyth, GA and then to the University of GA in Athens.  She belonged to many clubs serving in leadership positions and graduated with a double Major in English and French and a Minor in Art.   She studied Art under Lamar Dodd in the same class with Gudmund Vigtel who went on to be the director of the High Museum of Art in Atlanta. She was honored to sit as a model for the class and was awarded the winning portrait of herself painted by Gudmund.  The portrait was strikingly beautiful, capturing one of Virginia’s pensive moods, and was one of her most treasured pieces of art.

After marriage to her husband Manning and the birth of their children Jena Bradley (Ron) and Colbert, she went on to teach French and English at Pike County High in Zebulon. She also took on extra-curricular activities such as directing Glee Club, competitive Trios as well as plays and Operettas for the community.  She directed the choir at Zebulon Methodist Church where she had been a member for most of her life and later had the opportunity to teach in other schools, Riverdale High in GA, Cocoa Beach High in FL and Griffin Tech in GA, finally retiring in her 70s.  She had great love for her family, students and community and always wished the very best for all. 

Virginia was predeceased by her husband Manning Duffey of 63 yrs. (2013) son Colbert (1989) her parents Cecile (1972) and RC. Johnson (1960), sister Celeste (2013), brother-in-law John Armentrout (2011), nieces Diane Lewis Latham (Tommy), Judy Davis Fontenot (Roger), Cece Armentrout Yeakel (Doug) and nephew J. Clinton Sumner (Bettie).

She was much cherished by her family for her beautiful, sweet, kind and generous spirit and great sense of humor.  She will be dearly missed.  For the past decade, Virginia had the opportunity to touch even more people after the passing of her husband when she moved to an Assisted Living facility in Alpharetta, GA, most recently under the care of Agape Hospice.  They always mentioned Virginia’s beautiful spirit and how much they appreciated her kindness.

Virginia will be interred in her family plot, East View Cemetery, Zebulon, Georgia.

Donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Society of GA https://www.alz.org/georgia.

For online condolences please visit www.haistenmcculloughfuneralhome.com.

Haisten McCullough Funeral Home, 1155 Everee Inn Road, Griffin is in charge of arrangements.