Virginia Bolen Pendleton Bennett

Virginia Bolen Pendleton Bennett, 89, passed away peacefully at her home on August 25, 2015, after a period of declining health. Born in Birmingham, AL, on April 6, 1926, daughter of the late Roland and Minnie Leigh Bolen, she had moved to Valdosta with her family while in her early teens. A 1943 Valdosta High School graduate and Salutatorian of her class, she then attended and graduated from Georgia State Women's College (now VSU) in the late 1940's. She and her first husband, William F. (Billy) Pendleton were wed on August 7, 1948 and were married for 48 years prior to his death in 1996. In November of 1997, Virginia married Harold Martin Bennett and they enjoyed 14 years of marriage until his death in 2012.

Mrs. Bennett was an active member of her community. She was a member of the Mystery Ball Club, a Charter Member of the Cotillion Club, a member of the Book Review Club, and the D.A.R. She worked for several years in the VSU Alumni Office and was an active member of First Christian Church. Virginia treasured the relationships she had with the ladies in her bridge club, and she was an avid tennis player until the age of 80. Affectionately known as "Big Gini", she was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and sister. She will be missed.

Survivors include her daughters and sons in law, Leigh & Dennis Smith of Valdosta, Jan & Scott Pearlman of Atlanta; step sons and a step daughter in law, George & Martha Bennett, John R. Bennett, all of Valdosta; step daughter and step son in law, Ann & Jim Dowman of TePuke, New Zealand; sister, Joan Holman of Moultrie; brother and sister in law, Jimmy & Phyllis Bolen of Winter Park, FL; grandchildren, Mabry & Becky Smith of Valdosta, Gini & Jack Langdale of Valdosta, Matthew Smith of Valdosta, Helen Pendleton and Hannah Pendleton of Atlanta; great grandchildren, Sophie and Maddie Smith, Mary and Gretchen Langdale of Valdosta; numerous step grandchildren and step great grandchildren. The family extends special thanks to her caregivers, Wanda Denson, Shana Allen, Pam Gary, Marci Gary, Lyn Coleman and Maria. She is preceded in death by her parents, her two husbands, a daughter, Gini Pendleton, a son, Billy Pendleton and a brother, John R. Bolen.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, August 28, 2015 at 11 a.m. at First Christian Church. Rev. Chris Michael and Dr. Edward Bolen will officiate. Private committal services will be held at Sunset Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the church on Friday from 9:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Georgia Chapter, 2302 Parklake Dr, NE. Suite 210, Atlanta, GA 30345. Condolences may be conveyed to the family on the obituary page of www.mclanecares.com Carson McLane Funeral Home


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