It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of our mother, Virginia Bennett Cardwell. Virginia passed away peacefully on Friday, February 7, 2025, in her home of 59 years. She was born on December 6, 1932, in Danbury, North Carolina to the late Posie and Lera Bennett.
Virginia Cardwell, known to most as Ms. Virginia or “Gin,” was a fixture in her community, where she resided for 70 years. Virginia served as a member of WMU, NC Cooperative Extension and Ayersville Ruritan. She was a devoted and active member of Ayersville Baptist Church for the entire 70 years, having served as a Sunday school teacher and on several committees over the course of her membership. The strength of Virginia’s relationship with God was exemplified in her values of love, forgiveness, compassion, and kindness, which allowed her to interact with others with greater empathy and patience, mirroring the unconditional love we receive from God himself.
Her most prominent and cherished role in life was as a wife to her husband, June, whom she married on November 23, 1955, as a mother to her five boys (Rodney, Ronnie, Randy, Ray, and Kenneth), and a grandmother to her nine grandchildren. She shared a special relationship with each child, with each receiving all her love, warmth, and attention whenever she spoke with or spent time with each of them, and every conversation ended with, “I love you.” She looked forward to hearing from them every day, and kept abreast of their work schedules, doctor’s appointments, and travels. She spoiled her grandchildren with her love, attention, gifts, and quality time. She was the grandmother that many dreamed of – she was loving, kind and patient. She cherished their laughter, cries, and their chaos; they could do no wrong.
Virginia was a loving and loyal supporter of every member of her family. She loved her family and friends with limitless love, had the biggest smile and the most pleasant demeanor; you could feel the warmth of her heart in every hug. Virginia loved to entertain her family and friends by hosting many family get-togethers during Easter, July 4th, Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Everyone not only left with a full stomach, but there was always abundant leftovers to take with you.
The old adage, “the way to a person’s heart is through their stomach,” applied to no other person more than it did to Virginia. She was known beyond her community for her impressive baking and cooking skills. Sharing her culinary skills was truly an act of love and passion since she sold her cakes for far less than the cost of making them.
Virginia’s love for flowers, every type of flower imaginable, is world renowned. She found pleasure in tilling the soil and planting them herself. She enjoyed their many blooms from the comfort of her carport and proudly displayed their impressive beauty in several Facebook posts. The many Christmas cactuses and orchids she kept indoors brought her tremendous joy over the last few months of her life.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Posie and Lera Bennett; her husband of 45 years, June Cardwell; her son, Rodney Cardwell; grandsons, Shane Cardwell and Andrew Cardwell; her brothers, Elmer Bennett, Lawrence Bennett (L.G), Mack Bennett; and sister, Betty Briggs.
Those left to cherish her memory are her son, Ronnie and his wife, Antoinette; son, Randy and his wife, Dawn; son, Ray and his partner, Laurie; son, Kenneth and his wife, Diane; and daughter-in-law, Cheryl Cardwell; grandchildren: Hope, Cassi, Erin, Darrin, Zachary, Asher and Ethan; sister and best friend, Glenda Duncan; brother, Wayne and his wife, JoAnn; brother, Junior and his wife, Debbie; great grandchildren: Angel, Kristalyn, Kaitlyn, Christian, Finley, June, Webster, and Crew; special family friends, Goat and Rhonda Brim and Dian and Todd Brim, and many extended family members and friends.
The family will receive friends during the visitation, which will be held at Colonial Funeral Home, Madison, North Carolina on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
In remembrance of Virgina’s life, the family requests that any charitable donations be made to Ayersville Baptist Church.
The family wishes to express their gratitude for the love, care, and compassion shown by Beth Ann Shoemaker, Glenda Duncan, Rhonda Brim, Robin Mabe and Ancora (formerly Hospice of Rockingham County). Also, the family expresses their gratitude to the congregation of Ayersville Baptist Church for their prayers, visits, cards, foods, flowers, words of comfort, and acts of kindness during Virginia’s illness and subsequent passing.
Colonial Funeral Home in Madison is serving the family.
Condolences may be offered to the family at www.colonialfh.net
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