She was the first born child of George and Anna Leftwich. She had 4 brothers (Cass, Joe, Sam, and Dallas). She had 3 sisters (Mary, Etta, and Ellen). Virginia was raised a farm girl. Her parents believed in higher education and sent her to a boarding school in Pleasant Hill Academy in Pleasant Hill, TN. near Crossville after graduating primary community school. On Feb. 21, 1905, Virginia reported to her job in the academy kitchen to make breakfast. She collapsed and all the other workers thought she had just fell down. The kitchen supervisor checked on her and could find no pulse. It was assumed that she had a heart attack but no one ever found out for sure. Virginia was dead. Her father was home in bed sick with the flu when he got the news. He was so stricken with grief that he got out of bed, and walked 5 miles to the train station, and rode 35 miles to Pleasant Hill to retrieved the body of his beloved daughter. When Virginia's body was unloaded from the train in Boma where they lived her mother nearly fainted from grief. Anna composed herself and resisted this urge. George never recovered from the February weather and his broken heart and died 15 months later. Cass the oldest boy at 14 years old became man of the house. There is song that plays in my head about her even though I nor my father were born when she died. Cass is my grandfather and my fathers' father. Here is the song.
Song Lyrics adapted from "Think of Laura" by Christopher Cross 1984.
Every once in a while I'd see her smile
And she'd turn my day around
A girl with those eyes could stare through the lies
And see what your heart was saying
CHORUS:
Think of Virginia but laugh don't cry
I know she'd want it that way
When you think of Virginia laugh don't cry
I know she'd want it that way
A friend of a friend, a friend till the end
That's the kind of girl she was
Taken away so young
Taken away without a warning
I know you and you're here
In everyday we live
I know her and she's here
I can feel her when I sing
Hey Virginia, where are you now
Are you far away from here
I don't think so
I think you're here
Taking our tears away
CHORUS
Song by Christopher Cross 1984 "Think of Laura"
check youtube for the actual song
Song Lyrics adapted from "Think of Laura" by Christopher Cross 1984.
Every once in a while I'd see her smile
And she'd turn my day around
A girl with those eyes could stare through the lies
And see what your heart was saying
CHORUS:
Think of Virginia but laugh don't cry
I know she'd want it that way
When you think of Virginia laugh don't cry
I know she'd want it that way
A friend of a friend, a friend till the end
That's the kind of girl she was
Taken away so young
Taken away without a warning
I know you and you're here
In everyday we live
I know her and she's here
I can feel her when I sing
Hey Virginia, where are you now
Are you far away from here
I don't think so
I think you're here
Taking our tears away
CHORUS
Song by Christopher Cross 1984 "Think of Laura"
check youtube for the actual song
She was the first born child of George and Anna Leftwich. She had 4 brothers (Cass, Joe, Sam, and Dallas). She had 3 sisters (Mary, Etta, and Ellen). Virginia was raised a farm girl. Her parents believed in higher education and sent her to a boarding school in Pleasant Hill Academy in Pleasant Hill, TN. near Crossville after graduating primary community school. On Feb. 21, 1905, Virginia reported to her job in the academy kitchen to make breakfast. She collapsed and all the other workers thought she had just fell down. The kitchen supervisor checked on her and could find no pulse. It was assumed that she had a heart attack but no one ever found out for sure. Virginia was dead. Her father was home in bed sick with the flu when he got the news. He was so stricken with grief that he got out of bed, and walked 5 miles to the train station, and rode 35 miles to Pleasant Hill to retrieved the body of his beloved daughter. When Virginia's body was unloaded from the train in Boma where they lived her mother nearly fainted from grief. Anna composed herself and resisted this urge. George never recovered from the February weather and his broken heart and died 15 months later. Cass the oldest boy at 14 years old became man of the house. There is song that plays in my head about her even though I nor my father were born when she died. Cass is my grandfather and my fathers' father. Here is the song.
Song Lyrics adapted from "Think of Laura" by Christopher Cross 1984.
Every once in a while I'd see her smile
And she'd turn my day around
A girl with those eyes could stare through the lies
And see what your heart was saying
CHORUS:
Think of Virginia but laugh don't cry
I know she'd want it that way
When you think of Virginia laugh don't cry
I know she'd want it that way
A friend of a friend, a friend till the end
That's the kind of girl she was
Taken away so young
Taken away without a warning
I know you and you're here
In everyday we live
I know her and she's here
I can feel her when I sing
Hey Virginia, where are you now
Are you far away from here
I don't think so
I think you're here
Taking our tears away
CHORUS
Song by Christopher Cross 1984 "Think of Laura"
check youtube for the actual song
Song Lyrics adapted from "Think of Laura" by Christopher Cross 1984.
Every once in a while I'd see her smile
And she'd turn my day around
A girl with those eyes could stare through the lies
And see what your heart was saying
CHORUS:
Think of Virginia but laugh don't cry
I know she'd want it that way
When you think of Virginia laugh don't cry
I know she'd want it that way
A friend of a friend, a friend till the end
That's the kind of girl she was
Taken away so young
Taken away without a warning
I know you and you're here
In everyday we live
I know her and she's here
I can feel her when I sing
Hey Virginia, where are you now
Are you far away from here
I don't think so
I think you're here
Taking our tears away
CHORUS
Song by Christopher Cross 1984 "Think of Laura"
check youtube for the actual song
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