Virginia Sloan

Family and friends mourn the loss of Virginia Sloan – a much-loved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend to many – who died on February 6, 2025 in Durham, NC.

Virginia was born on January 19, 1941 in Cumberland MD, daughter of the late Mary and Raymond O’Neal. She was the proud and devoted mother of two daughters, Arlene Sloan Hopkinson (married to Nick) and Andrea Eaves (married to Simon). She was blessed with three wonderful grandchildren: Lauren Eaves-Sellers, Daniel Eaves and Benjamin Hopkinson and especially delighted by the arrival of her first great-grandchild Berkley Sellers in June 2023. Virginia’s husband of 39 years, Brian Sloan, died in 1999 after sharing an adventurous life together including 17 years living in Germany. Virginia is survived by her four loving siblings Jane Robinette (and husband Rob), Janet O’Neal, Paul O’Neal (and wife Jean), Joyce Porter and six beloved nieces and nephews.

Throughout her life, Virginia embraced adventure and challenge, moving to Washington DC days after graduating from Ursuline Academy in 1959 to make her own way in the city. After meeting and marrying Brian who was a recently enlisted sailor, naval postings took the young couple far and wide from, Memphis, to Maine and Florida. Virginia worked full-time throughout her life but always found time to be involved in her community from parent leader of 4H and Girl Scouts, a docent at the Henry Flagler Museum, to a committed volunteer at church and school events. She was also a talented seamstress, a formidable cardplayer (no mercy for grandchildren!) and greatly enjoyed entertaining friends and family with many legendary parties. We all admire her as a bright, talented, and early forerunner of today’s modern working mother.

In 1979 Brian and Virginia took the bold decision to move to Kaiserslautern, Germany where she had a thriving career for 17 years supporting US serviceman away from home. She excelled at Public Relations and continued her education in business management, ultimately heading up marketing for the Army’s recreation and entertainment division in the Kaiserslautern area and earning multiple awards and commendations from superiors and senior officers. Her location in central Germany also afforded the opportunity to travel extensively throughout Europe, making many treasured friendships. Upon returning to Florida in 1996 where her brother and older sister still live, Virginia continued her work with the military in Ft Walton Beach, and in later years in retail, marrying her people skills with her fashion forward sensibilities.

The beach was her happy place and in 2015, Virginia moved to Myrtle Beach, SC to be close to her sister Joyce – and enjoy an amazing view of the sea every day! At Ocean Creek she built a close community of friends who loved getting together for coffee, Sunday Brunch, playing games, reading books and beachcombing. Whenever possible she loved to visit her daughters and their families in England and extended family in Florida and Maryland – and regularly attended her high school reunions in Cumberland where she maintained many life-long friendships. Virginia moved to Durham, NC in 2023 to be closer to Andrea and her family and share in the joy of watching Berkley grow up. She was just beginning to settle into Hillsborough life when her health challenges slowed her down and eventually overcame her. Throughout her life Virginia displayed courage, grace and determination to meet life head on. She will be deeply missed by all those who knew and loved her.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, February 17, 2025 at United Methodist Church, Hillsborough at 2 pm EST followed by a gathering for friends and family at The Colonial Inn, Hillsborough. The service will be streamed live on Vimeo at: https://vimeo.com/event/4922191 .

Memorial donations may be made to the North Carolina Nurses Association , in honour of all the wonderful nurses that took such compassionate care of her over the last few months of her life.