September 20, 1922

Ritual Introduction Read by Bayard Catron

Learn about passing the Edith Good Bouquet

Comments by Greta Dershimer

On May 20, 2020, Virginia James celebrated her 100th birthday, and her friends at UUCville celebrated by parading in cars past Rosewood Village, flying balloons from their car windows, honking their horns, and waving, while Virginia and her family members stood outdoors by the road, waving back. How many of the participants here today were in that parade? (Hands raised) Every one of us here today was in that 100th Birthday Parade!

Today, Virginia is 102, and it is not her birthday. We are making Virginia an Honorary Recipient of the Edith Good Birthday Bouquet. Our new tradition of Passing the Edith Good Birthday Bouquet didn’t really begin until January 11, 2022. But the Caring Circle of 8 group, which started the tradition, thought that Virginia should be included among the recipients. She shouldn’t be excluded just because her 100th birthday arrived too early.

Virginia and her husband, Harry James, joined our Unitarian Universalist congregation when they wanted to enroll their two children in a religious education program. Malcolm Sutherland was the minister at the time. Virginia says that “We were almost immediately put to work, which made us feel like welcome additions.”

Virginia served as a Church School teacher and was the Religious Education Director for several years. She belonged to the Women’s Alliance and served as its President. When the Active Minds group started meeting around 2005, Virginia joined as one of the original members, and she was still a regular member when the Covid pandemic began.

Harry James was also an active contributing member of our UU congregation, serving as Church Treasurer for several years, and also as Chair of the Board of Directors. Virginia noted that three family Memorial Services and three family weddings were held in our sanctuary. The UU church has been “a happy home” for her for 67 years!

I got to know Virginia when I joined the Active Minds group. I loved the weekly poems she wrote to keep her mind active, and enjoyed the ones she read to us once a month. I bought copies of all three of the poetry books she published with illustrations by Barbara Yeaman.

When the pandemic began and the UU Phone Tree started, Virginia was one of the people I called every week to see how she was getting along as a resident in Rosewood Village. I really enjoyed those conversations and got to know her better. As the regulations relaxed after vaccinations became available, I’ve been able to visit Virginia on several occasions, and enjoyed sitting and talking with her in the outdoor area.

Virginia, we are all happy to welcome you as an Honorary Recipient of the Edith Good Birthday Bouquet, and I’m pleased to present you with the bouquet. None of us get to keep this beautiful bouquet, but we’ll give you photographs of this event so that you’ll remember having received the bouquet to honor your many years of contributing to our congregational community.

Comments by Virginia James

When Harry and I joined the church, it was a lot smaller than it is today, and there was a lot of work to be done. Everybody was kept busy all the time. That was a good thing. Working together was how we got to know each other. That was how we made friends. That was what made the church a strong community. That’s why the church has been a happy home for me for so long.

Thanks for giving me this lovely bouquet to hold for a while.

Virginia to UU Participants, Jean Shepard, Julia Sakellerios, Gerry Seedyke, Sallie Kate Park, Greta Dershimer, and Bayard Catron.

Thanks to all of you for being here to share this happy time with me.