Virginia "Jennie" Boggan

Virginia Louise Butler Boggan, better known as Jennie, born on November 12, 1948 in Laurel, Jones County, Mississippi, died following a courageous bout with cancer on May 06, 2017. She was preceded in death by her parents, John Marion and Christa Cowart Butler, maternal grandparents, Oliver James and Nora Busbee Cowart, paternal grandparents Dr. J.C., a graduate of the University of Tennessee Medical School, Memphis, at the turn of the 20th Century, and Mary Elizabeth Graves Butler and beloved uncle and aunt, Graves and Louise Henderson Butler, all of Laurel. She attended Laurel City Schools, graduating in 1966, then enrolled in Mississippi College where she distinguished herself both as a student and campus leader. Along with three of her classmates, she was inducted into the cherished Mississippi College HALL OF FAME during her senior year. Her hall of Fame portrait in The Tribesman, the school Yearbook, was framed with the words of Kahlil Gibran "Through the hands of such as these God speaks, and from behind their eyes, He smiles upon the earth." Furthermore, the article stated: The virtue of "giving in love and love in giving" is one which is coveted by all. Jennie Butler possesses this quality." Upon graduation from Mississippi College, Jennie was awarded a graduate fellowship by University of Tennessee, Knoxville to pursue a Master of Arts degree in the period of Renassiance and Reformation History and studied under the late Dr. Harold Fink, noted professor in the area of The Crusades. It was during this time, between the Winter and Spring Quarter, Jennie married Charlie W. Boggan on March 20, 1971 among the blooming azaleas and dogwoods of Laurel, Mississippi, only to return to Knoxville for the Spring Quarter, welcomed by four inches of snow. After two years at the University, Charlie and Jennie set out for the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. For the next decade, she pursued a varied career of secretary, library assistance at the Shelbyville Library, a Carnegie Library, and an adjunct professor at the University of Louisville Adult Education teaching Western Civilization to evening students; all to put her husband through Divinity School. Among these jobs, she took yet another, being the wife of a Baptist pastor, a role she splendidly filled from 1972 until her death; forty five (45) years as partner in Ministry at the Pigeon Fork Baptist (Waddy, Kentucky), First Baptist (Newport), First Baptist (Jasper, Georgia), and Southside Baptist (Newport). Equal to her love of serving Christ and His church was being mother to her favorite older son Joel and her favorite younger son Neil. Also very dear to heart was serving as a Parent Volunteer at the Newport Grammar School, a career she had to forfeit upon demand by her sons when she moved to Jasper, Georgia and her love of history which propelled her into participation in the NSDAR, the National Society of the Daugthers of the American Revolution. She was a very active member of the local William Cocke Chapter of the DAR, serving as Regent for several years. She also served as a member and Chairperson of the Raymond DeArmond Student Missions Committee of Carson Newman University. Survivors include her husband and partner in Ministry for forty-six years Charlie W. Boggan, sons Joel Curtis Boggan, M.D. (Durham, NC) and Neil Wade Boggan and his fiancé SaBrenna Reed (Memphis, TN), sister Ann Lott and spouse Charles (Hendersonville, TN), brother John Butler and spouse Grace Ann (Huntsville, AL), and sister-in-law, Martha Alice Boggan Robinson (Amory, MS). Also she is survived by three nieces, four nephews, great nieces and nephews and numerous friends and fellow believers in the churches that she served. Memorials may be made to the churches which Jennie served, the Raymond DeArmond Mission Committee for Student Missions, Carson Newman University, the Breadbasket, a food ministry that Jennie was instrumental in starting in Newport, or the charity of church of your choice. The family has chosen cremation. Honorary pallbearers will be the Ladies of Southside Baptist Church and the members of the local William Cocke Chapter of the DAR. A memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church on Saturday, May 13 beginning with visitation at 4:00 pm followed by the memorial service at 5:00 P.M. Family and friends may sign the guest register online at www.manesfuneralhome.com. Arrangements by Manes Funeral Home.

Virginia "Jennie" Boggan

November 12, 1948 - May 6, 2017