Dr. Virginia Murphy Harmeyer

Dr. Virginia Murphy Harmeyer, 90, of Valdosta, passed away on March 9, 2006 after a brief illness. Born on October 23, 1915 in Blakely, she was the daughter of the late James K. and Fannie Purifoy Murphy.

She is survived by two daughters, Barbara Harmeyer, of New York and Frances Harmeyer of Connecticut; a niece, Kathleen Wheeler Roush of Alabama and a nephew, Edward Wheeler of Mississippi.

Dr. Harmeyer’s influence was first felt in Valdosta when she came to direct the Division of Nursing at Valdosta State University in 1972. At her retirement, in 1981, a student scholarship fund was named in her honor and is offered each year to a deserving nursing student. After she retired, she continued to work by creating the Alzheimer’s Caregiver Time Out Program (ACTO), the first of its kind in the area. From a small group of clients and volunteers, she developed this program to a United Way funded and privately funded organization that has helped many families in Valdosta and neighboring regions.

Her long involvement with nursing education begin in 1937 with her position as Staff nurse Instructive Visiting nurse Society in Washington, DC. She continued her own education and obtained her PhD in 1977 at the age of 60, from the University of Texas. She has taught at Murray State University, Northwestern Louis State University, Southeastern Louisiana College, and Our Lady of the Lake Hospital School of Nursing in Baton Rouge, LA.

Always an advocate for the advancement of nursing, she was recognized by the Silver-Haired Legislation, a part of the Georgia Legislature in 1997, writing a bill that would allow Nurse Practitioners to practice in Georgia. She was on the board of Public Health Home Health, Inc. She was the AARP Legislative Chairman, a member of the American Nurses Association and the American Public Health Association. She had been a Board Member of the South Georgia Council on Aging the Advisory Council, Southwestern State Hospital, the Lowndes Co. Mental Health Association, the American Cancer Society Board of Directors, the American Association of University Women and was on the District XV Home Health Services Advisory Council.

All of her energy and efforts lead her to be listed in Who’s Who in Health Care, 1981; Who’s Who of American Women 9th edition, Who’s Who in the South and Southwest, 1977; Who’s Who in American Education Leaders, Who’s Who in American Science Education, 1968; World Who’s Who of Women, 1978 and Who’s Who in Personalities of the South.

Dr. Harmeyer has touched countless lives all over the world through her travel adventures and through her work. She will be missed in person, but her influence will continue to be felt well into the future.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 12, 2006 in the chapel of the Carson McLane Funeral Home with Rev. Lance Kindred officiating. Interment of cremains will be at a later date in Gulfport, MS. The family will receive friends on Sunday from 1 until 2 pm. in the chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to ACTO, Marcia J. Gogsin, 100 East Park Ave., Valdosta, GA 31602 or GANS, Virginia Harmeyer Scholarship, 278 Bealah Church Rd., Thomasville, GA 31757. Condolences to the family may be conveyed on the Obituary page at www.mclanefuneralservices.com. Carson McLane Funeral Home


Funeral Home:
Carson McLane Funeral Home
2215 North Patterson Street
Valdosta, GA
US 31602