Mary Virginia Wilson Voliva
March 1, 1923 – April 3, 2025

Mary Virginia Wilson Voliva, 102, went to her Heavenly home on April 3rd, 2025, in Edenton, NC.

Virginia was born March 1st, 1923, to Charlie and Vertie Wilson in Norfolk, VA.  Raised by her aunt and uncle, Mary and Noah Felton, in Perquimans County, NC, Virginia had quite an eventful life. A childhood that included picking tobacco and struggling through the Great Depression, led to young adulthood spent in Philadelphia with her mother working in a tearoom, selling dresses, and socializing at the Arch Street Methodist Church, to enlistment in the WAVES, including Yeoman School in Oklahoma, during World War II, a service of which she was incredibly proud.  After marriage to Braxton Voliva on June 29th, 1946, she made Columbia, NC her home where she worked in the extension service before becoming the backbone of Voliva Oil Company, sporting her iconic red Exxon jumpsuit. She was a dedicated member of Malachi Chapel Free Will Baptist Church, teaching Sunday School, hosting bible studies, washing feet, and taking naps.

Virginia was a resourceful lady; she grew her own vegetables (and drafted the kids to help), taught herself to drive with baby on board, raised ducks, and sewed clothes for her family.  After retirement, Virginia and Braxton trekked all over the world, and later in life, she crafted lovely window valances from the t-shirts and sweatshirts acquired on those travels.

Mammaw, as she was affectionately known to family and friends, loved children, and thoroughly enjoyed the generations of young people who made themselves at home at the corner of Martha and Elm streets.  She also didn’t mind disciplining the neighborhood kids who came over to play if they needed a little tough love, (and you know who you are!)

Welcoming her to Heaven were Virginia’s husband, Braxton; two daughters, Judith Voliva and Sue Voliva Spivey; great-granddaughter, Carson Davis; brother, Charlie Wilson, Jr.; and several cousins who were like siblings to her.

Her “guiding hand” and colorful stories will be dearly missed by sons Bill Voliva (Cheryl, her favorite daughter-in-law) of Williamsburg, VA and Charles Voliva (Miguel), of San Francisco, CA; son-in-law Leroy Spivey of Columbia, NC; grandchildren Brac Voliva of Williamsburg, VA, Melissa Anderson of Greenville, NC, Stephanie Davis (Jordan) of Wilmington, NC, Davie Anderson (Jen) of Charleston, SC, and Michael Voliva (Kari) of Aldie, VA; great-grandchildren Addy Voliva, Liam Voliva, Rosie Voliva, Edison Anderson, Hannah Davis, and Maddie Grace Voliva; step-grandsons Shawn Spivey and Travis Spivey of Raleigh, NC; special friend Dawn Harrell, and many other family and friends. Her children and grandchildren will miss the playful, irreverent relationship they had with a remarkable mother and grandmother, who entertained them with her silliness. To know her was to love her, and to wonder what in the world she was going to say next.

Donations in Virginia’s memory can be made to Malachi Chapel Free Will Baptist Church c/o Joyce James, 2993 Highway 94 South, Columbia, NC, 27925.

The family will receive friends on Monday, April 7, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Bryan Funeral Service, Columbia.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at Malachi Chapel Free Will Baptist Church. The burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Arrangements are by Bryan Funeral Service, Columbia.