Virginia Hernandez

Virginia Dallas Gregory Hernandez of Bluffton (Sun City), South Carolina passed away quietly in her sleep at her daughter’s home in the early morning hours of Sunday, December 10, 2017 at the age of 98. Virginia (who was known as “Ma” by everyone who knew and loved her) was born February 1, 1919 in Bowling Green, KY to John Dallas and Mary Addie Sumpter Gregory. She attended college at Western Kentucky University and secretarial school in Bowling Green before beginning a career with the Federal Government in Washington, DC and Chicago, IL, where she worked for the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service Regional Office for 14 years before her retirement in 1981. She was predeceased by her husband Albert Hernandez, her parents, her 2 sisters Frances Kenning (John) and Lucile Harris (Warren). Virginia is survived by the 4 children she raised near Chicago, IL: daughters Rita Hernandez of Corpus Christi, TX, Sr. Beatrice Hernandez of Elgin, IL, Mary Watson (Al Aspray) of Bluffton, SC and son John Hernandez (Linda Slaughter) of Seattle, WA. She is also survived by one grandson, Thomas Kauffman (Stacey) and 2 great-grandsons (Jordan and Tom) of Buckeye, AZ, longtime friend and supporter, Sr. Sylvia Wehlisch, of Elgin, IL, as well as 3 nephews and their extended families in Kentucky, Florida and elsewhere. Virginia’s peaceful passage was witnessed by her daughter and primary caregiver, Mary, who provided loving care and companionship during the last 26 years of “Ma’s” life in the home they shared. Plans for a service are pending. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, Bowling Green, KY. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be directed to Children of Upendo Sponsorship Program (CUSP), www.upendovillage.org, an organization that “Ma” actively supported for many years. Checks may be made out to Upendo Village and mailed to Children of Upendo Village Sponsorship Program, P.O. Box 3570, Lisle, IL 60532-8570. The Island Funeral Home and Crematory. islandfuneralhome.com. To send flowers or a remembrance gift to the family of Virginia Hernandez, please visit our Flower & Gift Shop.