Virginia Adams Hamilton-Hartzog

Virginia Adams Hamilton-Hartzog of Charleston, South Carolina, widow of Paul M. Hamilton and Ben Hartzog, passed away peacefully on Monday, November 24, 2014 following a brief illness. Her Funeral Service will be held Saturday, November 29, 2014 in Citadel Square Baptist Church at 11:00 a.m. Interment, Holy Cross Cemetery. The family will receive friends Friday from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., Downtown Chapel.

Mrs. Hamilton-Hartzog was born in Greenville, SC on October 19, 1915, a daughter of the late James Arthur Adams and Carrie Parks Adams Donnald. She is survived by her son, Paul "Rusty" M. Hamilton, Jr. of Charleston, SC; a daughter, Virginia "Ginny" Hamilton Merritt of Charleston, SC and her stepson, Glenn Hartzog and his wife Jill. Mrs. Hamilton-Hartzog is also survived by her grandsons, Paul and his wife, Jane, Fred and his wife, Janet, and Rod and his wife, Brandy; granddaughters, Lisa Carol Bryant and Kim Merritt; and thirteen great-grandchildren, Kye, Jenna, Alanna and her husband, Asher, Jordan, Zach, Reed, Robby and Carrie Bryant and her husband, Grant, Ashtyn and Savannah. She is additionally survived by three step-grandchildren Emily, Catherine and Glenn II. She is predeceased by her daughter-in-law, Carol Sennessey Hamilton and a granddaughter, Ashley Merritt.

The family is very grateful for the care, giving assistance and love provided by Christine Hodrick and Mildred Hayes.

For the past thirty years, Virginia made her life on James Island, close to and daily involved with the surviving members of her immediate and extended family.

Mrs. Hamilton-Hartzog was very active and prominent in various business, civic religious and educational organizations and endeavors in the Charleston and South Carolina communities. In 1934 she was chosen to be "Miss Charleston."

Virginia and her late husband, Paul, opened a jewelry store on Rutledge Avenue in Charleston in 1947. The family-owned enterprise grew to become one of the largest and most successful jewelry and bridal advisory businesses in Charleston and South Carolina. The store, which had relocated to St. Andrews Center was closed in 1992, following the passing of her late husband, Paul Hamilton. She was Vice President and Secretary of the store and became widely acclaimed as a preeminent bridal consultant throughout the Charleston area.

As well as her business responsibilities Mrs. Hamilton-Hartzog made other immeasurable contributions to her community. She organized the River High School Parent-Teachers Association in 1945, served as President of the James Simons Elementary School PTA from 1945 until 1948, and organized the St. Andrews School district PTA in 1970. Because of her efforts and contributions to the educational systems in South Carolina she was awarded the life-long memberships in the South Carolina PTA and the National Federation of PTAs. She was known affectionately and loved as "Mrs. PTA" in South Carolina for many achievements, one of which was the recognition of her pioneer an successful efforts to persuade the Charleston County School Board to recruit mothers and women to serve as traffic and safety guards for school children. This led Mrs. Hamilton-Hartzog being selected as the first woman to serve the District 20 School Board of Directors from 1962 until 1965. Her commitment to secondary and higher educational achievement and excellence was highlighted by her services to Charleston Southern University as a member of the Women's Auxiliary Advisory Committee and as a member of the CSU Board of Visitors.

For twenty years she has worked actively with the Baptist-owned Bonnie Doone Conference Center and the Charleston Baptist Association.

The Citadel Square Baptist Church in Charleston was critically central to Virginia's life. She served as Social Coordinator of the church for 14 years, was a member of the Finance Committee, The Redecorating Committee, the Personnel Committee, the Church Ministries Council and was a Chairperson for the Retirement Reception for Dr. A. Stuart Arnold in 1989. As a very active member, serving for years as a Sunday School teacher and as Director of the Woman's Missionary Union, she guided her efforts and activities on the basis of the moral and religious verities and admonitions gained from her faith in Jesus Christ and membership of the Citadel Square Baptist Church.

Virginia Hamilton-Hartzog served for twelve years as Chairperson of the Charleston Children's Theater, an ongoing cultural organization sponsored jointly by the Charleston Central PTA Council and the Footlight Players. Because of her outstanding efforts for and contributions to the Charleston and South Carolina community she was inducted into the Charleston Federation Women's Hall of Fame in 1973. Some of her salient endeavors to our community's vivacious growth and life were her contributions as Member and President of the Board of Directors of the Young Women's Christian Association; Member of the St. Andrews Exchange Club Auxiliary; President of the Greater Charleston Rotary Association, Member of the Charleston Museum; Member of the Historic Charleston Foundation; Member of the Charleston Preservation Society; Member of the Gibbes Museum of Art; Member of the Garden Club of Charleston; and Member of the South Carolina Association of the Blind. Virginia was also one of the organizers of the Women's Club of Charleston and was selected by Federation Clubs of Charleston as Woman of the Year.

Although Virginia Hamilton-Hartzog will be missed by her family, loved ones and friends, her influence and counsel to them will long be remembered as she touched them in her own unique way.

Memorials may be made to Citadel Square Baptist Church, Renovation Fund, 328 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC 29401 and/or Charleston Southern University, Football Program; P.O. Box 118087, Attn: Athletics, Charleston, SC 29423.