Mrs. Virginia “Ginny” H. Barrett, 78, of Statesboro, Ga., passed away April 4 from complications due to chronic leukemia.

The native of Petrolia was born on Jan. 31, 1935, and was the daughter of James Finely Hawk and Edna Bell Hawk.

Ginny was employed for many years in the graduate department at Georgia Southern University, retiring in 1991. She was an avid gardener, gourmet cook, and enjoyed traveling since her retirement.

Surviving are her fiance, Lee Yerington of Statesboro, Ga.; her daughter and son-in-law, Valerie and Edward Coppage of Jacksonville, Fla.; her son and daughter-in-law, Bradley and Linn Spieth of Atlanta, Ga.; two granddaughters, Megan Coppage and Nicole Coppage, both of Jacksonville, Fla.; and two brothers, James F. Hawk Jr. of Chicora and Robert Hawk of Butler.

BARRETT — A memorial service for Mrs. Virginia “Ginny” H. Barrett, who passed away Thursday, April 4, 2013, was Tuesday.The Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home of Statesboro, Statesboro, Ga., is in charge of the arrangements.Friends may sign the online register book at www.joineranderson.com.