Virginia "Ginger" Carol Hawks

Virginia Carol Hawks, 76, of Petersburg, died on April 9, 2026. Known as Ginger to her many friends, she was born on October 8, 1949 in Merced, California to June and Warren Hawks. She was the third of six children, all daughters.

Moving with her father's Air Force career, Ginger lived in several states before the family returned to Virginia when she was in elementary school.

Ginger graduated Prince George High School and then flung herself at life with curiosity, boundless enthusiasm, and an ever-ready wit.

In a varied career, she started as a wholesale sales showroom manager for Janzen sportswear, Calvin Klein, and Bob Mackie in New York City. Ginger relished her years in New York, where she also did some modeling for the fashion houses she worked with. At almost six feet tall, and strikingly beautiful, Ginger turned heads the minute she walked into a room.

However, she did get homesick and returned to family and Virginia after a few years in the Big Apple. Back home, she worked as a museum staffer in Richmond, and in public relations and media sales in Petersburg and Hopewell.

One career move that meant so much to Ginger was being the director of a home modification program, remodeling homes to fit the needs of elderly and disabled persons.

In retirement, Ginger often volunteered as a docent in local history museums. Then, she opened another life chapter when she moved to Kansas with her daughter Carrie's family. In addition to the chance to lavish love on her granddaughters, she enjoyed exploring historic places in Kansas. Traveling with her sister, Betty, who lives in Kansas, she exclaimed, "Now I know where history went after the Civil War!"

Ginger is survived by her daughter Carrie Wood (John); granddaughters, Ginna and Ila Grace; sisters, Mickey Branham (Johnny), Betty Bishop (Darrel), Jerri Shannon (Jimmy), and Susan Carney. She is also mourned by her many nieces and nephews and a multitude of friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, June and Warren Hawks, and her sister, Kathy Healy (Jerry).

A celebration of life is planned for a later date. Services are being provided by the Petersburg Chapel of J.T. Morriss & Son.