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In Memory Of Our Poets

Charlotte Virginia Parlier (Handy) (1921-2009) - Class Of 1938

Virginia Parleir Handy, 88 of Raleigh, North Carolina, died on February 8, 2009 following several years of declining health. Virginia was born in Montgomery, Alabama, on January 5, 1921. Her parents were William Walter and Mabel Beaty Parleir. She graduated from Lanier High School in Montgomery and Peace College in Raleigh. Virginia was a member of Saint Giles Presbyterian Church in Raleigh.

In 1941 Virginia married Russell P Handy and enjoyed 46 years of marriage prior to his death in 1987. During Russell's service in the U.S. Army and an administrative career with the Department of Agriculture, they lived in many locations, including Raleigh, North Carolina; Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana; Camp Stewart, Georgia; Trenton, New Jersey; Charleston, West Virginia; Columbus, Ohio; and McLean, Virginia. In 1970 the couple returned to Raleigh, North Carolina prior to Russell's retirement.

Through the years, Virginia enjoyed bowling, playing bridge, entertaining, dancing, and genealogical research. During the Vietnam War she was a regular visitor and friend to seriously injured soldiers at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Many of the friendships and correspondence continued through the years and were a great source of pride for her. Virginia's family and friends cherished her distintively sharp wit and quick mind.

Virginia is survived by her two children and their spouses:

  • William Russell Handy and Barbara Houghton Handy of Naperville, Illinois
  • Barbara Handy Settlemyre and Larry Settlemyre of Cary, North Carolina

and two grandsons:

  • Nicholas Russell Handy of Charlotte, North Carolina
  • Brent Houghton Handy of Naperville, Illinois

The family received friends from 1:00pm to 2:00pm at the Brown-Wynne Funeral Home at 300 St Mary's Street in Raleigh.  A memorial service followed immediately after at the funeral home's Wynne Center. The burial followed on Thursday at 11:00am at the Steele Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Memorial contributions may be made to:

Steele Creek Presbyterian Church
7407 Steele Creek Road
Charlotte NC 28217

Walter Reed Society
PO BOX 59611
Walter Reed Station
Washington DC 20012

The family would like to thank the staffs of Brighton Gardens of Raleigh and Rex Rehabilitation and Nursing Care Center for thier kind and compassionate care during the three years prior to Virginia's death.

Condolences may be sent to www.brownwynne.com.

 
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08/20/11 06:03 PM #1    

Stan Robinson (1970)

This is the text of a letter I received from Mrs. Handy's Daughter, Barbara H Settlemyre. Many thanks to Barbara for keeping us informed about the Poets.

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July 18, 2011

Dear Mr. Robinson,

I stumbled upon your web site for Sidney Lanier High School. What a nice job! I saw my mother's name listed in the "missing" category.

Sadly, she died in 2009 so I'm sending along her obituary. She was in the class of 1938 - her name is listed as Charlotte V. Parlier, but she always went by the name "Virginia" and her last name is spelled "Parleir".

When she left Montgomery in 1938 to go to college in Raleigh, NC, she never returned to live in Montgomery but did keep in touch with many of her friends. She attended a Sidney Lanier Reunion in 1999, I believe, and had a great time reminiscing.

I'm sure the class of 1938 has lost many members at this point in time, but I wanted to send along her obituary in case someone out there has wondered about her.

Thank You,

Barbara H. Settlemyre


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