Virginia Brown Alexander

Virginia Brown Alexander, age 105, of Little Rock died January 12, 2012. She was born January 7, 1907, in Scott, Arkansas to Otelia George and Arthur Lee Alexander. Her Maternal ancestors, the Georges, emigrated from Kestlebach, Germany in the 1840's and were prominent in the early development of Little Rock. The Alexanders came from Asheville, North Carolina in the late 1890's to farm cotton and raise cattle. Her paternal grandmother was a Davidson. Davidson College was named for the family. Virginia was born and raised in her family home at Scott, Arkansas, Illallee, built in 1840 by Chester Ashley. A graduate of Hillside Preparatory School, Norwalk, Conn. and Iowa State College, Virginia was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, President of Women's Athletic Association, tapped for Mortar Board, and a Pi Beta Phi. She was the first woman editor of her college's yearbook. Virginia worked in New York City for the Episcopal Church until 1928 when she married Gordon Barr Brown in The Little Church Around the Corner. They lived in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada and raised their family until she moved back to Arkansas. Her second marriage was to Robert Alexander of Land's End at Scott. In addition to her husband, Virginia was predeceased by her siblings, Wm. George, Arthur Lee Alexander Jr., Marion Hawkins and Louie Sanford. Survivors are her children, Joan Brown Dietz, George Alexander Brown, Virginia Brown Davis and stepson, James Robert Alexander (Susan). Her grandchildren are Ellen (Bill) Burnett of Boston MA, Eadie (Mike) Ferretti of Charlotte, N.C., Elise Siegler and Peter (Kris) Alexander of Little Rock, Arthur Watkins of Little Rock, Katie (Peter) Sanford of Lonsdale, AR and Gigi (Mark) Buhrow of Hot Springs. Her great grandchildren are John and Laura Virginia Burnett, Peter and Michael Ferretti, Jim and Alex Siegler; Sean, Thomas, charlotte and Olivia Alexander; Caroline, Hallie, Maggie, Ginny, and Julyava Davis; Ross and Ben Buhrow. Virginia's niece, Sissy Cox of Little Rock and nephews, Martin Hawkins of Searcy and Dr. Alex Sanford of Memphis. Virginia's life was characterized by energy, enthusiasm and eclectic interests. She mastered golf at the Country Club of Little Rock and later became the Western Canadian Golf Champion. She took her horses to Camp Quachita to teach horseback riding. She and a long time friend, Faye Templeton Brewer, started a medical clinic at Scott. After WWII she was instrumental in developing "specialty-produce" gardening with five Japanese-American families who had come from the Rowher internment camp. Virginia loved people. She was hostess for her brother George Alexander's duck club, Kingdom Come at Stuttgart. Virginia and her husband Bob were known for their entertaining at Land's End. She donated land to the Scott Plantation Settlement whose mission is to preserve the history of the regions' agrarian life. A passionate gardener, she was a member of the Little Rock Garden Club, the Herb Society, and was a Master Gardener. The Alexander-Butler Rose Garden, adjacent to the Pulaski County Court House, was named for Virginia and her friend Gertie Butler. Virginia was also honored with The National Garden Club of America Medal of Merit Award. Combining her love for church and herbs she designed and planted the Biblical Herb Garden featuring herbs of the Bible. Although a lifelong Episcopalian, her greatest commitment was to Scott's interdenominational church, All Souls, built the year she was born. Her parents were among the early founders of All Souls Church and each Sunday morning she could be found seated on the front pew. In later years a small down comforter awaited her arrival. Virginia had an especially large following of stray cats that she fed daily not to mention her dogs and early on, her horses. She was a woman who loved her Creator, her family, the land and her friends. When asked about her longevity, she credited it to the three "A's;" attitude, activity, and (with a twinkle in her eye) apple juice, "slightly fermented." A visitation will be from 5 to 6:30 p.m., Sunday, January 15, 2012 at Ruebel Funeral Home. Interment will be held in Mount Holly Cemetery at 10 a.m. on Monday, January 16, 2012, followed by a memorial service in All Souls Church, Scott, Ark., at 1130 a.m. Virginia's grandsons and great grandsons will serve as pallbearers. The Reverend Gerry Claybrook and The Reverend Len Griffen will officiate. A reception will follow in Eyrie. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to All Souls Church, The Scott Connections Foundation Fund, P.O. Box 214, Scott, Ark. 72142, The Little Rock Garden Club, Mount Holly Cemetery or a favorite charity. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.