Virginia Pillow Lavinder

Virginia Pillow Lavinder, age 97, passed away February 7, 2018, at Dekalb Medical Center in Decatur, Georgia, after a brief illness. Born in Roanoke, Virginia, she was the daughter of Charles Clayton Pillow, Sr., and Mary Peters Pillow. She graduated from William Fleming High School in Roanoke and after completing business courses she went on to employment with Frigidaire in Roanoke. She was transferred to Charlotte, North Carolina, and later to Atlanta where she retired from the Advertising Department after thirty years of service with Frigidaire, a division of General Motors. She then began a second career with Ursula's Cooking School of Atlanta where she was the office manager. She remained there for thirty years until she finally retired at the age of 90.

Ms. Lavinder was a former member of Saint Stephen Lutheran Church and was a current member of The Lutheran Church of the Messiah. She delivered Meals on Wheels and was a Charter Volunteer for the Fernbank Museum of Natural History. During her twenty plus years of service at the Fernbank, she volunteered 4,709 hours to the museum as a greeter welcoming visitors to the IMAX theater.


Her endearing personality enabled her to develop and maintain long lasting friendships with schoolmates, co-workers, church friends, and neighbors. She had a special place in her heart for animals and adopted several rescue dogs over the years and supported various humane groups.


She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Charles Pillow, and her former husband, Norman Lavinder, all of Roanoke. Left to cherish fond memories of this dear lady are her son, Gary Lavinder (wife Linda) of Statesville, North Carolina; her niece, Patti Love (husband Don) of Roanoke, Virginia; great-nephew Scott Markham (wife Lee) of Roanoke; and her faithful companion – her rescue dog, Lady.


Her memorial service will be held Thursday, February 15, 2018, at 3:00 pm at The Lutheran Church of the Messiah, Decatur, Georgia, with the Rev. Mary Armstrong-Reiner officiating. The family will receive friends after the service. Interment will be at a later date in Roanoke, Virginia.


In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to PAWS Atlanta, 5287 Covington Highway, Decatur, Georgia 30035, or The Lutheran Church of the Messiah, 465 Clairemont Avenue, Decatur, Georgia 30030.