Virginia C. Freeman

Mrs. Virginia “Ginny” Christian Freeman passed away on Wednesday, October 2, 2019. She was 91 years of age. Mrs. Freeman was born in Catoosa County, Georgia and grew up on a dairy farm. Her father was prominent and operated a progressive dairy that became one of the first electrified farms in the country and was studied by agricultural experts nationwide. As a child, Ginny became accustomed to meeting Senators, Congressmen, Agricultural Secretaries, and other dignitaries visiting her home. In 1940, she accompanied her father on a trip to California where he spoke on behalf of President Roosevelt. After graduating from Lakeview High School, she attended West Georgia College, and then attended the University of Georgia. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Education, and met Ralph Freeman, who became her husband of 64 years. After graduating from Georgia, she taught school in South Georgia for two years. After teaching, she concentrated on helping establish her husband’s insurance adjusting business and giving birth to and raising four children, two of which she lost to Cystic Fibrosis. In 1960, she and her husband Ralph bought Campbell’s Motel in Griffin, Georgia and moved there. They changed the name to Bambi Motel. Ginny ran the motel while her husband continued his insurance adjusting business. In 1962, the couple acquired the rights to the Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise in Griffin. Ginny ran the restaurants in Griffin and one in Thomaston while her husband continued his insurance adjusting career. Though they sold the Thomaston franchise in the early 80’s, she continued managing the Griffin KFC’s until the 1990’s. Many Griffinites learned about business and responsibility from working for her as young people. In addition to managing her restaurants, Ginny also found time to be involved in her children’s lives, offering advice, mom’s taxi, and teaching her children to read and do math. She was a world traveler with her husband, visiting over 25 countries and every continent except Antarctica. She was also active in Cystic Fibrosis cure organizations, and the self-help movement. She was for many years a member of the First United Methodist Church of Griffin.

Ginny is preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Ralph Winton Freeman; parents John Sibley Christian and Emma Dietz Christian, her brothers Maurice Lebron Christian, and Eugene Norman Christian, and her two sons, Terrence Wayne Freeman and Glenn Michael Freeman.

Survivors include her son Ralph Christian Freeman, daughter-in-law Christy Johnson Freeman, daughter Debra Freeman Jinks, son-in-law Joel Jinks, grandchildren, Jenna Jinks Skrine, Ansley Jinks Gresham, Kaydie Jinks, Cecil Freeman, and Glenn Freeman, great-grandchildren Cash Skrine, Evvie Skrine, Emerie Skrine, Connor Freeman, Laylah Freeman, Kylie Rain Gresham, Colt Gresham as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation for Mrs. Virginia Freeman will be Sunday, October 6 from 12:30 pm until 2:00 pm at Conner-Westbury Funeral Home, with funeral services following in the Chapel of Conner-Westbury Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 2302 Parklake Dr. NE Ste 210 Atlanta, GA 30345.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Virginia C. Freeman, please visit our floral store.