After a courageous battle with cancer, which she fought with dignity and fierce determination to live, Virginia Rowland Barker died at her home, surrounded by family, on her 88th birthday, February 27, 2025. After years of tending, cultivating, and arranging flowers, the gates opened to Heaven’s perfect garden where she now walks with cherished loved ones.
A beloved matriarch, Ginny was deeply adored by her family, who often sought her wisdom and guidance. She was a loyal friend who had a remarkable ability to connect with others, bringing joy, comfort, and unwavering love to all who knew her. She was a true southern lady with a meticulous eye for detail and a passion for decorating and floral design. Her warmth, beautiful smile, laughter, and quick wit will be deeply missed but forever remembered.
Born in Pembroke, Virginia, she was the daughter of Berkley Ward Rowland and Thelma Williams Rowland. She was preceded in death by her husband of fifty-two years, George Edd Barker, Sr.; a brother, Alfred Rowland; and sisters-in-law Emalean Rowland and Shirley Rowland.
Ginny was a graduate of Narrows High School, where she was Miss Giles County and attended Girls State. She was a 1959 graduate of Emory & Henry College, where she was a cheerleader, a basketball athlete, and a proud member of Kappa Phi Alpha sorority. Her love for her alma mater was constant over the years as she served on the Board of Visitors, a presidential selection committee, and a football coach selection committee. She also served Emory & Henry as secretary for the Board of Governors (now the Board of Trustees), Board of Trustees for Holston Conference Colleges, and she and her husband served on the Parents Council and as National Annual Fundraising Chairpersons. In 2018, she was the recipient of the Fred Selfe Service to Emory & Henry College alumni award.
She served on the Board of Directors for Girl Scouts of America, the Highlands Festival Board, and the Budget and Finance Committee of Johnston Memorial Hospital. She was a member of Abingdon Booklovers, United Daughters of the Confederacy, the Antiques Market Committee of the Virginia Highlands Festival, and served as past president of Random Arts Club. She was an active member of the Abingdon Garden Club, serving as chair of the Abingdon Garden Tour and Tour Sponsorship Committee for many years. For her dedication and service, the Garden Club granted her a Lifetime Membership in the Virginia Federated Garden Club and honored her with a bench in Eberhardt Park that bears her name. For nearly fifty years, she treasured the time spent with her beloved “Bridge Buddies.”
For more than 60 years, Ginny was a devoted member of the Abingdon United Methodist Church, where she served as Chair of the Pastor-Parish Relations Committee and Chair of the Altar Guild. She was chair of the Response Circle and received the UMW Special Membership Award.
She served as Secretary and Treasurer of Coal Marketing Corporation, a company she and her husband established, which sold coal nationally and internationally.
Ginny Barker showed all of us how to live with love and kindness, and her attention to perfection made Martha Stewart look like an amateur. No matter the circumstance, she could always be counted on to do whatever was needed to care for those around her. Her loss leaves a darkness, but also a light for us to carry forward. She is irreplaceable.
She is survived by her children George E. “Chip” Barker, Jr. of Meadowview, Virginia; Cynthia “Cindy” Barker Blevins and husband David of Floyd, Virginia; and Christopher “Chris” Barker and wife Jennifer of Charleston, SC. She had eight grandchildren, Benjamin (Amelia) Barker, Andrew (Ashley) Blevins, Joshua (Megan) Barker, Caroline Blevins, Casey Barker, Charlotte C. Barker, Jason Dean, and Virginia Ann Barker; and three great- grandchildren Abram Barker, Maggie Blevins, and Charlotte R. Barker – all of whom affectionately called her Gran Gran.
She is also survived by a brother, Bryant Williams “BW” Rowland of Narrows, Virginia, long-time family friend, Monica Hoel of Emory, Virginia and many special nieces, nephews and dear friends.
The funeral service will be conducted at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, March 7 at Abingdon United Methodist Church with Rev. Paul Seay and Rev. David St. Clair officiating. A visitation will follow in the church fellowship hall from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Interment will be at Knollkreg Memorial Park on Saturday, March 8 at 11:00 a.m.
Pallbearers will include Frank Blair, Dr. Mike Doty, Greg Herrell, Trey McCall, Larry Miller, and George Strong. Honorary pallbearers will include Jim Brown, Richard Davidson, and Dr. Ron Ely.
Those wishing to honor Ginny’s memory may make contributions to the George and Virginia Rowland Barker Scholarship Fund at Emory & Henry College, (PO Box 950, Emory, VA 24327 or ehc.edu/giving) or the Trust Fund at Abingdon United Methodist Church (103 E. Main Street, Abingdon, VA 24210).
Arrangements are entrusted to Frost Funeral Home.
Frost Funeral Home and Cremation Services is honored to serve the family of Virginia Rowland Barker.
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