Virginia (Ginny) Royster Francisco, a beloved member of the Staunton community, passed away on Thursday, September 21,
2023 at the age of 80 at Summit Square, after a prolonged battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was a loving mother, dedicated
teacher, friend, and pillar of her community.
Born in Youngstown, Ohio, on November 18, 1942, Virginia Francisco grew up in the Bon Air neighborhood of Richmond, VA.
She is preceded in death by her parents, John LeMay Royster and Marjory Fleming Royster. Ginny is survived by her daughter
Sarah Ashton Francisco and daughter-in-law Teri Beasley, her former husband William (Bill) Francisco Jr., sister Linda LeMay
Royster and her wife Barbara Kinsman, her brother William (Bill) Royster and his wife Priscilla Melchior, niecesAmy Royster
Bridger and Leatrice Royster and nephew Jeffrey Royster, and her bonus daughterAmy Cuomo.
Ginny was married to Bill Francisco for more than two decades. Together they farmed Christmas trees and fostered the growth
of Francisco Farms in Augusta County. They had one daughter, Sarah Ashton Francisco. Ginny cherished her daughter and took
immense pride in Sarah’s dedication to protecting the environment. One of Ginny’s happiest moments was celebrating Sarah’s
marriage to Teri Beasley, in 2010. In the following decade, Ginny delighted in spending time with her two daughters.
An alumna of Mary Baldwin College, the University of Virginia (M.A. English), and Indiana University (Ph.D. Theatre), Dr.
Francisco’s academic pursuits were fashioned by a love for theatre and a devotion to (and an insistence on) well-written and
precisely spoken English. As a Professor of Theatre at Mary Baldwin College for Humanity Women’s build in Staunton. Ginny
believed in the transformative power of art. She promoted classical music for the Staunton Music Festival and was one of the
founders of the Oak Grove Folk Music Festival in Verona. Since her time as a Mary Baldwin student, she was involved in Oak
Grove Theater and Theater Wagon productions as well. On her retirement, Ginny’s expertise in history and architecture
prompted her to work with Staunton Guided Tours.
Ginny’s adventurous spirit led her to explore the world. She guided student and other groups on educational trips to London,
China, Egypt, and Eastern Europe. She espoused only one rule on those trips: “Do not come to the attention of the authorities.”
Ginny also explored Greece, Russia, and Italy with family and friends, and spent several months as a volunteer English teacher
in Ethiopia.
As Ginny’sAlzheimer’s disease progressed, her friends and family stepped in to help her manage her world. Her family would
like to thank Nancy Tyree and Wendy Thompson, her special helpers. They would also like to express their gratitude to the
compassionate and loving women who cared for her in the memory care wing of Summit Square in Waynesboro.
Virginia Francisco lived her life to the fullest. She was never afraid to step in, take charge, and make things work smoothly. A
director to the core, she had a keen eye for detail and a loathing for inefficiency. Virginia Francisco was a force of nature, and
she will be missed beyond measure.
Amemorial service to celebrate Virginia Royster Francisco’s life will be held at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Staunton on
Saturday, September 30, at 11:00 a.m. Friends and family are invited to gather for a reception on Saturday evening at 5:00 p.m.
at the Fletcher Collins Theatre at Mary Baldwin University.