Sarah Virginia "Ginger" Whitley - 68 - resident of the Eastern Shore VA, slipped away peacefully to be with the Lord, on March 24, 2024. She was born to the late James Bateman and Olive Swindell on October 1, 1955. Raised in Princess Anne County - Pungo VA, with her 5 siblings. Ginger was very much a country girl.

In her late teens Ginger moved to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. It is here she met the love of her life, Woodrow "Butch" Whitley. For Ginger and Butch it was love at first sight and it didn’t take long for them to elope. The Oceanfront was their home, where they enjoyed a beautiful 40 year marriage and happily raised 4 amazing daughters: Virginia Dare, Summer Marie, Annabelle Elaine and Angel Rose.

Not only a wife and mother, Ginger was a driven career woman. Starting out fresh with the City of Virginia Beach Treasurer's Office, she was 18 in the mailroom. She quickly worked her way up creating the database program for the VA State Property Income Tax System. Ginger was inducted as Employee Number 7 to the 1987 VA Beach City Hall of Fame. After 35 years, Ginger retired early as the VA Beach City Deputy Treasurer in 2009. Ginger was proud, well respected and very accomplished in her professional life.

Once retired Ginger spent time writing award winning poetry, visiting Seashore State Park and hanging with her husband, children and grandchildren. After losing Butch, her husband and best friend, she changed her stars and moved to the Eastern Shore VA. There she found her dream home, the Gingerbread Manor. She flourished in her time at GingerBread Manor tending to her bountiful gardens, raising all types of farm animals, and being outside every second she got. She was truly living the best life for herself.

Ginger will be remembered for her kindness, sense of humor, and all-around love for life.

She was a caring and dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She adored her children and treasured the moments spent with her grandchildren: Skylar Turpin, Jackson Turpin, C.J. Turpin, Bethany Shea, Harper Herbert, and Rose "Rosebud" Herbert.

Ginger is survived by her siblings Rose Harrill, Venus Cleanthes, Issac Bateman, and James Bateman, Jr. She is preceded in death by her loving husband Woodrow "Butch" Whitley and sister Victoria Franklin and parents. Ginger will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

* Happiness, health, wisdom and wealth! If you have the first three, you’ve got the fourth! ~ Ginger Whitley *

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