Virginia Harrison

Virginia Ruth Harrison now lives in heaven with her Lord and God, Jesus Christ. Virginia died Monday, May 13, 2024 in Saint Joseph, Michigan. Virginia “Ginny” Wallace Harrison was born March 9, 1935, in Burton, Michigan of Charles Edgar Wallace and Agnes Seretta Wallace, nee Pratt.  She attended Bentley Public School in Flint, Michigan, finishing her high school education at Owosso Bible College, in Owosso, Michigan.  She then attended nursing school at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, MI, achieving her RN in nursing.  On October 26, 1957, she married James “Jim” Harrison at the Bentley Pilgrim Holiness Church.  Together they raised two children, Mark Stephen and Susan Jane.  Virginia worked as a nurse serving patients at both ends of life:  newborn nursery and geriatrics.  She enjoyed experiencing the variety of God’s creation and to that end, she and Jim traveled to numerous parts of North America, to eastern Indonesia (where her daughter’s family lived) and the Middle East to visit Bible lands. She loved to study the Bible, on her own or in groups, to garden, and to teach children’s church at the Bentley Wesleyan Church in Burton and the Calvary United Methodist Church in Flint, Michigan.  She was committed to helping mothers and their preborn children, as well as helping young mothers thrive. Despite her reserved and quiet demeanor, she was involved in prayer walks and silent protest near abortion clinics. She had compassion for the preborn and their mothers, and for women who had lost their babies at birth like she had. After retirement, Ginny and Jim moved to Berrien Springs, Michigan to spend more time with their grandchildren. 

Virginia is preceded in death by her husband James, two daughters who died at birth, Anne and Rebecca, her parents, three sisters, Olive Wallace, Charlene Clark, Charlotte Martin, two brothers Charles Eugene and George Merton, and one grandson, Paul Harrison.  She is survived by her son, Dr. Mark Harrison (Donna) of Berrien Center, Michigan, her daughter, Susan Nivens (Rick) of Goshen, Indiana, her grandchildren, Kristofer Nivens of Chicago, Michael Nivens of Goshen, IN, David Nivens of Goshen, IN, Sarah Rhein (Nathaniel) of Berrien Center, MI, Eleanor Bliese (Daniel) of Berrien Center, MI, Annalise Highley (Aaron) of Fort Wayne, IN, Matthew Harrison (Olyanna) of Berrien Springs, MI, Luke Harrison (Joy) of Priest River, Idaho.  She has fourteen great- grandchildren:  Cyprian, Gwendolyn, Beatrix, Justin, Frederick, Caroline, Laura, Benedict, Clarence, Jerome, Rebekah, Ruthanna, and two on the way. She is also survived by her brother Albert Wallace of Flint, Michigan, her cousin Gail Doxtrader of Portland, Oregon, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held at the Community Evangelical Free Church, 120 Bertrand Road in Niles, Michigan from 2-3:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 19. The funeral service will begin at 3:00 p.m. Burial will follow at the Union Cemetery in Berrien Center, Michigan.  Arrangements were completed at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be given in memory of Virginia to: LifePlan of Niles, Michigan (which provides support to people facing pregnancy and family-related issues) and Hope Mommies, Northern Indiana chapter (it’s their vision to help every family who experiences infant loss find community, grief resources and ultimately the Hope of Christ which is our unfailing anchor.)