Vivian Virginia Strong

Vivian Virginia Strong, more affectionately known as Mama Ginger, aged 93, passed peacefully away on Friday evening on April 28th, 2023, surrounded by family and then privately laid to rest on Monday, May 1, 2023, in the Strong Cemetery located in the Churchhill Community in Rusk County, Texas, with Dwain Knight and J. Paul Nelson officiating. Virginia was born on October 20th, 1929, in Rusk County, Texas, to James Henry West and Mae Hollingsworth West. She had two siblings named Sylvia Louise West Walker and Billy Gene West. Virginia was raised in a very loving nurturing home where her parents also took in and helped raise other family members’ children. She carried those same attributes and compassion throughout her own life. Virginia attended the Henderson ISD schools and was always an exemplary student throughout her school years and was even an all star volleyball player in high school. Virginia received her cosmetology license after her high school graduation in 1946 and continued as a beautician for a couple of years in Henderson, Texas. Virginia married the love of her life, Tom Mack Strong on April 23, 1948, in Rusk County, Texas. After discharging from the Army, Mack soon began working for Brown & Root Company and they lived in several different cities in Louisiana, during his tenure with that company, until eventually moving back home to Henderson, Texas, to raise their children, Glenda Strong Nelson and Terry Mack Strong and to be near their immediate families. They remained in Henderson until the end of their lives. They were both born and raised in Rusk Country, Texas, Virginia in the Good Springs Community and Mack in the Churchill Community. Virginia began her bookkeeping career employed with Harold Cooke Accounting Services and later also worked at the Dorothy Hines Accounting Firm. In approximately 1969 Virginia began her employment with R. T. Smith Welding and Press and worked there as a bookkeeper for 45 years. She was 85 years old when she retired. After retirement, she spent most of her days enjoying being with her family. Virginia and Mack stated throughout the years that the happiest times of their lives were when their grandchildren came along and years later followed the great grandchildren. Virginia loved watching her great-granddaughters, Bryleigh and Macy Nelson, play softball whenever she got the chance. If she could not attend she wanted to hear about their games play by play. She loved spending alot of time with her great-grandson Jace Nelson in whatever activity he enjoyed. Jace, Bryleigh, and Macy are the children of her grandson, Nickolas Jace Nelson. She was overjoyed at the arrival of her fourth great-grandchild, Thomas Oliver Nelson, son of her grandson, Jeffrey Paul Nelson, and kept up with him mostly through video chats because they live in Austin, Texas. She looked forward to visits with them whenever they were in town so she could play with Oliver. Virginia was such a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. Her greatest joys were taking care of her family and catering to their every need. Throughout the years she continuously demonstrated her love for her children, Glenda and Terry. She loved to cook and made the best cakes, pies, and candies for her family. Her potato soup cured any type of illness and her spaghetti, pinto beans, and fried cornbread were always a special Saturday treat. She was always a cheerful, graceful, and compassionate person as well as a woman of strong faith. She loved her family and her life long friends especially from her church, St. Paul’s Methodist Church in Henderson, Texas. She adopted her grandson Jace’s dog named Polar Bear a/k/a PoPo, and from then on they were inseparable. She adored PoPo and PoPo could always be found in Mama Ginger’s lap. Virginia is preceded in death by her loving husband, Tom Mack Strong, her parents, James Henry West and Mae Hollingsworth West, as well as her two siblings Louise West Walker and Billy Gene West, and a grandson Christopher Strong. Virginia is survived by her beloved daughter and husband, Glenda and J. Paul Nelson, her beloved son, Terry Mack Strong, beloved grandsons, Jeffrey Paul Nelson and wife, Selena, and Nickolas Jace Nelson and wife, Courtney, and beloved great-grandchildren, Jace, Bryleigh, Macy and Oliver Nelson, and bonus great-granddaughter, Sophie Tyler, nieces, nephews and other family members. The family would like to give a special thanks to a dear friend, Monica Ford, of Henderson, Texas, for her love and compassion as well as the staff at Hospice of East Texas in Tyler, Texas, for the care and attention shown to Mama Ginger. Even as we say goodbye, we lift up your life as an inspiration of love, grace, and wisdom. You will be forever missed. A register book will be available to sign at the funeral home from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Tuesday and from 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Wednesday. John Chapter 14:1-3 1] "Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. [2] In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? [3] And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

Vivian Virginia Strong

October 29, 1929 - April 28, 2023