Mrs. Virgie Nell Richards Reece

Mrs. Virgie Nell Richards Reece, 84, of Ellijay, went to heaven to be with Jesus and her saved loved ones Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020. 

Her struggle with pain and sickness in her earthly body was finished as Virgie was promoted to her heavenly home. It was as if Jesus gave the order: get Virgie’s robe and crown, I want her with me in heaven, and he welcomed her by his side that Sunday morning with these words, “Well done, faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord!  You are home now!” 

She was born Dec. 9, 1935, in Oconee, Tenn., to the late H.J. and Lizzie Richards.  She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. 

Her gift was a nurturer, a caregiver, one who saw the needs of others before they saw the needs themselves.  She was smart, independent and self-sufficient in a way that never imposed on those around her.  She was funny, had a quick wit and rarely turned down an opportunity to laugh together over a game of Aggravation or Skip-Bo. 

She loved children, especially babies, which always brought a smile to her face and strength she did not know existed.  She was an excellent cook of all the best comfort food, and she never allowed you to leave her table without offering you one more biscuit, one more spoonful of green beans, or hot peach cobbler. She shunned recognition that was sincerely deserved! She aged into a lovely, meek, woman of God with grace. 

After meeting on a blind date, May 1954, in Atlanta, she married Euel Reece Dec. 23, 1954. They pledged their love to each other, “for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, ‘till death do us part.” They were together for 66 years.

She and her husband, Euel, served 21 years in pastoral ministry in Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee (1961-1982). In January 1983, they moved to the Netherlands to have a ministry with the American military and other English-speaking nationalities (1983-1994).  This was followed by missionary work in Communist Romania, Moldavia and Lithuanian (1995-1999).

She was the last of her immediate family. 

She is preceded in death by parents, Herman Jackson and Lizzie Jane Rodgers Richards, of Morganton; seven brothers; and four sisters.

She is survived by husband, Euel V. Reece, of Ellijay; three daughters, Sherri Walls (Jeff) Ellijay, Donna Tidmore (Steve), of Douglasville, and Beverly Daniell (Cam), of Ellijay; 12 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren; cousins, nieces, nephews, and Danny Madden, foster son.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, at Bernhardt Funeral Home Chapel. Viewing will be from 1-2 p.m. 

Interment will be at 3:30 p.m., in Yukon Cemetery

We encourage social distancing and masks to family and guests.

Flowers are welcome. Contributions in memory of Mrs. Reece can be made to the Yukon Cemetery Fund,  P.O Box 466, Ellijay, GA 30540 or Heartlite Hospice, 9 Russell Drive, Suite 201, East Ellijay, GA 30540.

Condolences can be made at www.bernhardtfh.com.

Bernhardt Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.