Virginia (Gini) Ann Draughon (née Nash), 86, a native of Charleston, South Carolina passed from the boundaries of this world into the presence of her Savior Jesus, the Christ of God, on Wednesday February 11, 2026 after a short but hard fought battle with pulmonary fibrosis. Even in her final weeks and days she was learning of God's grace, the wonder of His mercy and the power of His forgiveness.

Virginia was born on May 20, 1939 to Harlan Velius and Annabelle Cook Nash. After graduating from the Andrew B Murray vocational school in downtown Charleston, Virginia worked as a hairdresser and beautician in the Fort Sumter Hotel on King Street and was fond of telling stories of her care for the ladies of the social elite.

Virginia married Harry Clay Draughon, Jr of Atlanta, Georgia in December of 1965 and remained devoted to him for 52 years until the day of his passing in March of 2018. Together they loved to travel all over the US and beyond and Virginia was able to fulfill their dream of following the path of Jesus in Israel in 2019. They were also dedicated Southern Baptists and Virginia worked as a church secretary for her own and various other churches for over thirty years.

Virginia's passions were music and studying her Bible. For many many years she enjoyed singing alongside her husband in the church choir and the two of them even performed together in various productions including Messiah and Ahmal and the Night Visitors. She also took absolutely every opportunity to read, study and teach the Bible. She made certain to find a Bible Study Fellowship group for her own study no matter where she moved and created her own Backyard Bible School programs for kids in the neighborhood when her children were young.

Virginia is survived by her daughter Beth Melinda and her husband Douglas Smith of Glastonbury Connecticut, David Clay Draughon of Lorton Virginia, one grand daughter Annabeth Smith with one absolutely beautiful treasure of a great grandson, Calvin Smith of Gainesville Florida. While Virginia is predeceased by her younger sister Jean Hudson, she is survived by her older sister, Barbara Huddle and two brothers, James Nash and Clifford Nash, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

A service honoring her life and testimony here on earth will take place at 2pm on Thursday, February 26 at First Baptist Church of Daytona Beach, 10 First Baptist Pkwy, Daytona Beach, FL 32124.

Because my mother often liked to tell the story about how she first encountered Jesus when a bus came around to her neighborhood to take children to church, I thought it most appropriate that any donations made in her name should go to her church's bus ministry, so, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First Baptist Church Daytona Beach, 10 First Baptist Pkwy, Daytona Beach, Florida 32124. You need only put 'bus ministry, imo Gini Draughon' in the memo.