Virginia Lee "Jinny Hux" Willingham

Virginia Lee “Jinny Hux” Willingham passed away Saturday, April 20, 2024 at the age of ninety-one. Virginia was born in Johnson City Tennessee June 25, 1932, and graduated from Science Hill High School in 1950. She went to ETSU and followed with a job at Miller Brothers Lumber Company and then the Volunteer Natural Gas Company. During this time, she joined a basketball team at the VA and played for 5 years. After living in various parts of the country she came to Kingsport and stayed at home to raise her two sons.

She was involved in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts for many years. She was a member of Colonial Heights Christian Church since 1961 where she was part of the circle, taught Sunday School and youth groups and was involved in many of the volunteer groups with the church for many years.

She was active in the Senior Citizens of Kingsport and loved pickleball, tennis, and dancing. Her favorite time was playing USTA tennis where her team won state three times and played in nationals in Las Vegas at the age of fifty. She and her husband, Lewis, loved to travel and visited almost every state and many countries overseas. She always felt like she had a great life with her husband of 72 years and loved her family and playing with her four grandchildren. God could not have blessed her more.

Virginia was preceded in death by her parents, Melba and John Cecil Hux; and sister, Louise Gose. 

She is survived by her husband, Lewis Willingham; sons, Gary (Lisa) of Glenside PA and Brad (Katrina) of Wilmington NC; three grandsons, Brandon (Brittney), Justin (Carrie), and Jordan (Page); one granddaughter, Jessica (Zach); three wonderful great-granddaughters, Madilyn, Zuri, and Skye Willingham; and many nieces and nephews. 

The family will receive friends on Monday, April 29, 2024 from 10:00am – 12:00pm at Colonial Heights Christian Church. The funeral service will be conducted at 12:00pm at the church with Pastor David Mullins officiating. Graveside services will be held at 2:00pm at Mountain Home National Cemetery.

 In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Bays Mountain Park and Planetarium, 853 Bays Mountain Park Rd., Kingsport, TN 37660 or American Red Cross of Kingsport, 660 Eastern Star Rd., Kingsport, TN 37663.