Helen Virginia Lawson was born June 26, 1925 to Adrion and Katherine (Ruyle) Bradford in Slagle, Missouri. After graduating from Pleasant Hope High School she married Alvie Lee Lawson on July 18, 1944. In 1994 they celebrated fifty years of marriage.

On Friday, May 10, 2013, at the age of 87, Virginia passed away at the Neighborhoods at Quail Creek Skilled Care. The family wants to thank all the staff at Quail Creek whom so lovingly cared for their mother.

For fifty years Virginia taught Sunday School. She was a charter member of Southgate Baptist Church. Virginia was devoted to her family, loved working in her flower garden and sewing for grandchildren.

She is survived by her loving family, son Gary and Donna Lawson; daughters Carol and Sam Morris and Linda Chafin; eight grandchildren, Angela, Ben, Tim, Leslie, Brian, Alicia, Bradford and Jeanne; fifteen great grandchildren; sisters Mary Eda Engleking and Ruth Long.

In addition to her husband Alvie, Virginia was preceded in death by her parents, a son-in-law, Richard Chafin; half brother Ford Bradford and half sister Athelone Marling.

The service for Virginia is scheduled for Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at Klingner-Cope Family Funeral Home at White Chapel, 5234 W. State Hwy. EE, Springfield, MO at 11:00 a.m. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow the service in White Chapel Memorial Gardens.

The family has requested donations be made in Virginia''s name to the American Diabetes Association, 2833 E. Battlefield, Ste B, Springfield, MO 65804.