Virginia Downs of Huntsville left us peacefully on the morning of November 23, 2024. She was born in Milton, Florida to John Massey Salter and Bertha Marie Hanna, the second of two children. She graduated Milton High School, after which she attended St. Margaret’s Hospital School of Nursing, Montgomery, Alabama and graduated as a Registered Nurse.
Virginia married Gresham Grant Downs in Birmingham, and they raised a family of five children, moving to and living in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Montgomery, Alabama; Bedford, Massachusetts, and Colorado Springs, Colorado; finally settling and making their home in Huntsville, Alabama.
Virginia began her nursing career when nurses wore starched white caps, dress uniforms, and polished white shoes. She provided care to patients at Huntsville Hospital, Crestwood Hospital, and the Fox Army Community Hospital, Redstone Arsenal where she was recognized with the Civilian Award for Humanitarian Service.
Virginia loved beautiful things and was known for tireless indulgence in retail therapy and buying gifts for others. She enjoyed visiting with and getting to know people from all walks of life, and never met a stranger. She remembered and always asked about everyone.
She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Florence Marie Salter Nelson of Chipley, Florida; daughter, Crystal Allison Downs; and son, Bruce Lamar Downs. She leaves to cherish precious memories, daughters, Ivy Downs Albert, Stephanie Downs Hopper (Charles), and Lilli Downs Danielson (Gil); grandchildren, Carrie Hamm (Daniel Berg), P. J. Hamm, Robert Danielson, Megan Danielson Langley (Bryan), Victor Danielson, and Emily Danielson; four great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins and their families.
Final arrangements have not been announced.
In lieu of flowers the family request memorials be made to Huntsville First United Methodist Church, 120 Greene Street SE, Huntsville, AL 35801, or a charity of your choice.
