Virginia Louise Larisey (Myrick)

Virginia Larisey, 92 years young, of Charleston, SC, peacefully passed away on April 29, 2015 in her home following a courageous battle with cancer. She was never defined by her age, a beautiful lady inside and out. Virginia was born on February 27, 1923, in Jacksonville, FL, to the late Hazel Baker Myrick and Robert Fulton Myrick. Though both of her parents had S.C. roots, she grew up in Miami, Florida. The middle of 5 children, she was bright in school and excelled in music, sewing and typing, winning many awards and receiving a full scholarship to a Florida music conservatory. After her high school graduation, she married Walter Earle Larisey Jr. of Charleston, S.C. and later settled there. Walter enlisted in the Marines during WW II and Virginia worked as a secretary at the Naval Shipyard while he was overseas. They raised 5 children and she had the capacity to make each child feel so special, a mother who was full of wisdom, compassion and tremendous love. During Virginia and Walter’s long, loving relationship she was a secretary for South Carolina ETV and a church secretary for Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. When the children were “out of the nest” she and Walter ran a very successful home-based floral supply company until his death in 1984. Virginia’s interests included serving on the Altar Guild at church, leading the children’s choir in her local parish, filling in for the church organist as needed and being a Cub Scout mother. Very close to her heart was her membership in the Daughter’s of the King; an Episcopal/Anglican organization for dedicated christian women. Virginia’s remarkable gifts as a pianist brought great joy to all. She regularly performed at local nursing homes, retirement centers and hospitals bringing her gift of music to the infirm and suffering. She spent many hours volunteering and truly knew how to make lemonade when given lemons. Until her recent illness, she entertained regularly at Ashley Park, her residence, and loved getting a crowd of “old folks” to sing along to the favorite show tunes and popular songs of the depression era. In 2009, she was named Senior Volunteer of the Year by the Charleston Exchange Club and was a finalist for the Jefferson award. Besides her parents, Virginia is preceded in death by her husband Walter Larisey, her son John Larisey, her sister Margaret Wallace, brothers Ernie and Robert Myrick and her parents. Virginia is survived by her children: Dr. Walter Earle Larisey, III of Tuscaloosa, Al., Paul L. Larisey (Sonya) of Pebble Beach, Ca., the Rev. Dr. Frank E. Larisey (Hope) of Newnan, Ga., Kathy L. Christen (Chuck) and Carolyn L. Atkinson (Dr. Randall Atkinson) both of Charleston, S.C. nine grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. Her sister, Mrs. Doris Garavaglia (Louis) resides in Redwood City, Ca. A Requiem Mass in thanksgiving for the life of Virginia Larisey will be held at Old St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 2604 Ashley River Road, Charleston, SC 29414, on Saturday, May 9, 2015 at 11.00 am, with the Rev. Frank E. Larisey officiating, assisted by the Rector of Old St. Andrews, the Rev. Marshall Huey. A private family burial will take place at a later date. Following the service, the family invites friends to celebrate Virginia’s life at the home of Kathy and Chuck Christen. Memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrier Project or Old St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 2604 Ashley River Road, Charleston, SC 29414. Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at www.mcalister-smith.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to McALISTER-SMITH FUNERAL HOME WEST ASHLEY CHAPEL, 2501 Bees Ferry Road, Charleston, SC 29414, 843-722-8371.