Virginia L. Worthington

Virginia LaVone Richardson Worthington, 78, of Mount Pleasant, SC, passed gently to life eternal on Sunday, December 17, 2023, the result of an accidental fall.

Born on December 8, 1945, Little Rock, AR, to Bernice Joiner Richardson and LaMoyne Richardson, she grew up in
Knoxville, TN, and graduated from West Fulton High School, Atlanta, GA.

She met her soulmate, Calvin (Cal) Worthington, at church and they married in 1964. Cal’s career with the US Army/USG took them on a 59-year odyssey with numerous moves in the US and abroad. Places they lived included Budapest, Hungary, The Hague, Netherlands, Moscow, USSR, and Berlin, Germany. Daughter, Sherie, was born in 1966 and son George was born in 1971.

Virginia was an avid reader, and her greatest intellectual interest was WW II era history. She was an accomplished executive secretary in her early career. She worked for several US agencies, including State, DIA, and CIA. During her second career phase, she was an entrepreneur. She co-owned an imported porcelain and furniture store in NJ, owned the largest video store for US personnel in Berlin, and co-owned the first American-style pizza restaurant in the city. After witnessing the fall of the Berlin Wall, she and Cal worked with a partner to create The Berlin Wall Art Collection.

Virginia found the greatest joy being with her three grandchildren and family, as well as volunteering at church. She was a member of Saint James Anglican Church and the Daughters of The Holy Cross. She loved working with children and taught Sunday school for many years.

Virginia is survived by her husband of 59 years, Calvin; daughter, Sherie Cabalu (Tyrone) of Vienna, VA; son, George Worthington (Michele) of James Island, SC; granddaughter, Eleanor Cabalu; grandsons, Aidan and Bryce Worthington; brother, JR Richardson (Jerry) of Lafe, AR; sister, Gail Springer (Johnny) of Athens, AL; and nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, December 27, 2023, 5:00 PM –7:00 pm, at McAlister Funeral Home–James Island, 347 Folly Rd, Charleston, SC 29412. A funeral service will be held at 1:00 PM on Thursday, December 28, 2023, at Saint James Episcopal Church, 1872 Camp Rd, Charleston SC 29412.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you please consider a donation to Gideons International for the purchase of bibles www.sendtheword.org

Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at at www.mcalister-smith.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to McAlister-Smith Funeral Home, 347 Folly Road, Charleston, SC 29414, 843-614-8494.