Virginia Culp

Anna “Virginia” Culp was born on June 20, 1930, in Denver, CO to the union of Buford Jewell and Anna Hazel Lowe.  She attended East High School where she excelled academically.  She was very involved in multiple school organizations including Girls’ Glee Club, Club 48, the cheer squad (known as White Jackets), and President of Y-Teens (Y.W.C.A). 

Virginia graduated in the Spring of 1948 and in the Fall of the same year attended The University of Colorado Boulder.  She followed her love of the Sciences and in just 4 years, received her Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology.  

After college, a short first marriage and with 2 sons (Glenn & Leonard), she relocated to Long Beach, CA.  Over the course of a 50-year career, she would work at many SoCal hospitals, including: St. Mary’s Hospital, UCI Medical Center, Garden Grove Community and Long Beach Community Hospital.  But it was in 1961, as a single mother working at St. Mary’s, where she utters these words to Morris T. Culp Sr…

“I wonder what makes you tick?”

…that question would lead to a 47-year marriage and 4 more children: Cynthia, Sandra, Morris Jr. and Byron.  She and Morris Sr. built a beautiful large home in Wrigley Heights of Long Beach, where they raised chickens, planted farms and stayed extremely active in the community.  She was a member and Worthy Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star and a member of the Order of Amaranth and organization built on the foundation of Fraternal Love and Service.

Virginia was truly “fairest among thousands all together lovely.” 

Virginia loved to travel.  In the 1980s, she joined a Christian organization known as, Women’s Aglow Fellowship.  She and her good friend Carol would travel to Christian conferences all around the U.S., Europe and Asia.  Her travels had a great influence on her children, and they made sure she continued to see the world, even up to the age of 93, when she took her last trip to the island of Maui, Hawaii.

Virginia accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at a very young age.  It was top priority that her children did too.  She and her family served at many churches in Long Beach, including Garfield Baptist Church, Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, Grace Memorial Baptist Church, and New Hope Baptist Church.  She enjoyed teaching and attending Bible studies, singing in the choirs and playing the piano.  

In 2020, after moving under the care of her youngest son, Byron, his wife, Melissa and their 3 children: Mason, Morgan and Sadie, Virginia joined Second Baptist Church of Santa Ana.  She was very active in Sunday School and Small Groups and loved traveling with her son, Byron and the Robert Allen Men’s Chorus, as they would minister in song to churches all over the United States.

Everything Virginia did, she did in love and everyone she encountered felt her genuine caring Spirit.  It could be seen in her bright smile and heard in her warm words of encouragement.  She was truly “Mama” to so many and she loved you like one of her own.

On Monday, September 2, 2024, Anna Virginia Culp went home to the Lord.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Morris T. Culp Sr., stepdaughters: Marzetta and Ponstance.  She leaves to cherish her memories, her children: Glenn, Leonard, Cynthia, Sandra, Morris Jr. and Byron, a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and a multitude of loving family and friends.

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