Virginia A. Sturdevant was born on July 12, 1928, in Detroit, Michigan and died on September 6th, 2020, at her home in Auburn Hills, Michigan.
Virginia married John D. Kelly in 1947. She nursed him for many years after he was diagnosed with a terminal illness and he died in 1986. She was employed by the Bishop of the United Methodist Conference in Michigan and served as executive secretary for three successive Bishops. Upon retirement in 1993, Virginia moved to Lakeland, Florida, with her companion of many years, George Scott, and nursed him through kidney disease until his death in 2001. On July 21, 2013, she married John Sturdevant of Auburn Hills, Michigan, who she shared very happy years with. He became her loving caregiver after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and she was able to live her final years in the beautiful home John built.
Virginia was very active in both Commerce UMC, serving in many leadership roles, and was also a very active member of First UMC in Lakeland, Florida. She was a member of the choir at both and participated in many various activities in the church. After retiring from her job as executive secretary to the Bishop in Michigan she was asked to join the Florida UMC Bishop’s staff and remained working there until 2012, when she retired for the second time
She is survived not only by her loving husband, John Sturdevant, but also her daughters Janice (Duke) Reynolds and Caryn (Dan) Lance, her three grandchildren, Andrew Frazier, Evan Lance, Jenna Lance, and her great grandson Luca Aldrich, all of Waterford, Michigan, her bonus Swedish “daughter”, Mia Gronkvist-Olsson, her stepchildren, Debbie Chapa, Lisa Hanson and Steven Sturdevant, and her nieces and nephews and their families. Virginia was the ultimate optimist, always choosing to focus on the positive side of any situation. She was the matriarch of a close-knit, loving family, and made lifelong friendships through her churches, Commerce UMC and First UMC in Lakeland, Florida. She traveled extensively in her lifetime, and always shared her love for adventure with those around her. A life well-lived.
A memorial service celebrating Virginia’s life will be held on Saturday, September 26th, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. at Commerce United Methodist Church, 1155 N. Commerce Road, Commerce, MI, 48382. Masks are required inside and social distancing guidelines will be observed.
Condolences can be sent to daughter Caryn Lance at 5920 Appian Way, Waterford, MI 48329.
Last Updated on September 23, 2020