Virginia Rosenbalm Gray—beloved wife, mom, “Grammy,” “Auntie,” educator, public servant, storyteller, poet, humorist, and homemade biscuits and fried chicken queen—passed away peacefully on March 22, 2025, at the age of 85.
She was born on a snowy day in Bristol, Tennessee, on March 6, 1940, to Warren and Edith Rosenbalm, and grew up alongside her big brother Donald, in humble beginnings, but with big dreams.
She met the love of her life, Earl Gray, when she was in college. When they first crossed paths, sparks flew, and it was clear this was something special. They married in 1963, had a daughter in 1964 and built a beautiful life together on Gray’s Hilltop Farm over the next 62 years. Their partnership was marked by lots of laughter, hard work, shared values, and the kind of deep love that seems rare these days. They opened their home to not just kin but anyone who needed a warm meal or a listening ear.
From her early days as “Most Intellectual” at Dickson High School to earning two degrees from Austin Peay, Virginia was a lifelong learner and an enthusiastic teacher. She poured more than three decades into Dickson County Schools as a teacher, supervisor, and principal—and after retiring, she went right back to teaching, helping Japanese families settle into the community with language tutoring and warm friendship.
She never met a school board, club, committee, or community event she didn’t love—or lead. Dickson County Commissioner, Rotary Club president, Dickson County Retired Teachers Association scholarship chair, Library Board, and the Renaissance Choir…a go-to person for basically anything civic-minded. If something good happened in Dickson, you can bet Virginia probably had her fingerprints on it. And being a retired English teacher, God forbid if you misspelled a word or used any incorrect grammar or punctuation in shared materials or speeches!
But her real magic was at home: hosting epic Thanksgiving feasts for 50+ people in a house that somehow always had room for one more, telling hilarious but real-life stories, and throwing the legendary Gray Boys Old Time Wheat Threshing events each year—part history lesson, part hoedown, part county fair, and all heart.
She loved her chocolate and hot Earl Gray tea every morning. She made the best biscuits and fried chicken, could belt a tune, draw anything, host and decorate a party, and make you laugh until you cried about the madcap goings on of everyday life on the farm with Earl—all in one afternoon. She was, in a word, unforgettable.
Virginia was devoted to her “little family,” as she called us — her adoring husband Earl, her daughter Ginny, favorite son-in-law Craig (her words, but he agrees), and the absolute light of her life, her grandson Gray. Coming from a small family, she deeply loved her large extended family of brother and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and friends.
Please gather with us to remember her on Saturday, March 29, at 2 PM at Taylor Funeral Home in Dickson, TN. Visitation is Friday from 5–8 PM and Saturday from 1–2 PM. https://taylorsince1909.com
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Virginia Rosenbalm Gray Memorial Future Educators Scholarship at Austin Peay: https://givetoapsu.com/VirginiaRosenbalmGray
To send a check, make payable to:
Austin Peay State University Foundation
Alumni, Engagement and Philanthropy Office
P.O. Box 4417
Clarksville, TN 37044
Please include Virginia Rosenbalm Gray in the memo line.
Memorials in the form of a check will be accepted at the Taylor Funeral Home.
When Virginia learned about this scholarship on her 85th birthday, her heart was so full, knowing that her legacy would be giving back to those in need. She knew firsthand how hard it could be to pursue education without financial help, and this endowed scholarship will ensure generations of future teachers get the encouragement (and help) they need to step into the classroom and change lives, just like she did.
She taught us all something—whether in a classroom, in community service, around the kitchen table or just out having fun. And she made sure we laughed while we learned. What a gift. What a woman. What a life.
Virginia Rosenbalm Gray
(March 6, 1940-March 22, 2025)
Proof that wit, grit and love
can change the world
For more obituaries visit https://dicksoncountysource.com/obituaries/
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