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In Memory Of
Virginia Turner Smith
Mrs. Virginia Turner Smith, age 96, prominent citizen of Franklin and former owner of the Village Inn Restaurant, passed away October 6, 2019.
Funeral services for Miss Virginia will be conducted Thursday October 10, 2019 at 2:00 PM from Prospect Church with the Rev. Brandon Brooks officiating. Her body will lie in state at the church from 1:00 PM until the funeral hour. Interment will follow the service in the church cemetery.
The family will accept guests at Stutts Funeral Home Wednesday evening from 5:00 – 8:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Prospect Church in Miss Virginia’s name.
Funeral services for Miss Virginia will be conducted Thursday October 10, 2019 at 2:00 PM from Prospect Church with the Rev. Brandon Brooks officiating. Her body will lie in state at the church from 1:00 PM until the funeral hour. Interment will follow the service in the church cemetery.
The family will accept guests at Stutts Funeral Home Wednesday evening from 5:00 – 8:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Prospect Church in Miss Virginia’s name.
Miss Virginia was born November 24, 1922 in Heard County to the late Clifford Timmons Turner and Ethel Mae McClain Turner.
She attended Franklin High School and was a star basketball player for the 1938 – 1939 Championship Team. She graduated as the salutatorian of the Class of 1939.
She married young and worked hard to support her family. Later she married Mr. Garfield Smith, and they enjoyed a loving marriage of almost 50 years until he passed away in 2006.
She operated a restaurant on the west side of Court Square in Franklin named Jenny’s from 1960 until 1967. At that time she had the opportunity to purchase the Village Inn Restaurant across the square.
Miss Virginia made the restaurant a Franklin institution. Everyone came to town to enjoy fried chicken, dressing, country vegetables, sweet tea, and some of the best desserts to be had anywhere in the local area. Miss Virginia had a group of cooks and waitresses who worked for her for many years, and they all became part of her family.
The Village Inn became Franklin’s social spot for lunch and dinner. Franklin’s most prominent citizens were frequent customers. Weeks when the Heard County Superior Court were in session were especially busy, when everyone in town got in line to enjoy food, fellowship and gossip.
Miss Virginia loved to help people. She employed many workers who needed a job to make ends meet. She also gave food to families who could not afford to feed themselves.
Miss Virginia operated the Village Inn until November 7, 1993, when she decided to retire. The Chamber of Commerce honored her for her service in the restaurant and to the community with a reception and a sliver platter as a commemorative gift.
Even after retirement, Miss Virginia never slowed down. She was an active member of Prospect Church. When the congregation purchased Prospect from the United Methodist Church, she was a founding member.
Miss Virginia loved to cook, and she especially enjoyed having family over for dinner. She was renowned for her dressing, but the best things the family enjoyed were her cocoanut cakes and her famous strawberry cakes.
In her leisure time she liked to watch the Hallmark Channel and Family Feud. She loved visits from family and trips to the beauty salon to get her hair fixed.
Later in life she got to go on her first airplane flight to attend the wedding of her niece, Roianne Turner Lynch. She was the guest of honor on the flight, and she was treated like a queen. On the way to Washington State she had to pass through security without a photo ID. To verify her identity, she had to answer questions posed to her about her history. She was able to answer every one and convince Homeland Security she was who she said she was!
Miss Virginia lived a full life and had a circle of family and friends who loved her dearly and will miss her. She has earned her eternal reward.
Survivors include: one daughter, Jane Barker (David) of Franklin; two sons: Edgar Davis (Merrell) of Hogansville and Thomas Davis, Sr. (Revia) of Franklin; eleven grandchildren: Beth Meschke (Ross), Beverly Lawrence (Paul), Bobby Davis (Melissa), Lynn Henry, Dwayne Meacham (Denise), Marsha Parkerson (Scott), Jim Davis (Terry), Jane Prevost (Daniel), Tracy Harrell (Scott), Robin Barfield (Joel), and Jennifer Coker (Andrew); a number of great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, Luke Whittington; her caregiver and dear friend, Rosie Daniel; and a host of other family and friends, including the many workers from the Village Inn Restaurant.
The Staff of Stutts Funeral Home is honored to support this family with End of Life Services.
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My condolences and prayers to the family at this point and time I remember meeting Virginia Turner Smith and she was very humble full of life had that southern charm and hospitality always asked if I was ok or if I needed anything she always gave her full attention to who she spoke to she will be greatly missed. David Grillo
Please accept my deepest sympathies. Sincerely, Loraine Crenshaw (Wellstar West Georgia Hospice)
Will be forever missed!
Thank you for your expression of confidence by selecting our services. May time bring you comfort and strength.
Sincerely, The Staff and Management of Stutts Funeral Home
Sincerely, The Staff and Management of Stutts Funeral Home
