Virginia Gilkey Bragg

Virginia Gilkey Bragg, 91 of Sanford, died on Tuesday, June 26, 2007 at Newton Center in Sanford.Virginia was born in Alfred on July 21, 1915 to Leland and Bessie Allen Gile. She graduated from Alfred Village High School and Northeastern Business College in Portland. She was employed by Stowell McGregor in Dixfield Maine where she met her future husband Eugene Gilkey. They were married in 1939 at the North Alfred Baptist church and set up residence in Illinois. When Eugene died in 1946, Virginia and her two daughters returned to live at the Gile homestead in North Alfred.In 1947, under Virginia's leadership as church organist, a choir was formed at the North Alfred Baptist Church where she was a faithful, active member. She conducted a ministry of visitation as long as she was able. Virginia was employed by the Sanford Institution for Savings Bank for over 24 years. She retired to care for her mother who had a disabling stroke.Virginia was a beautiful and talented writer and corresponded with her family and many friends, sharing that talent through her letters and entertaining stories of daily life and of her spiritual life. She was a lover of nature's beauty as reflected in stories. She enjoyed gardening and shared her beautiful flower arrangements at weekly church services, weddings and other neighborhood occasions. She loved her family and family gatherings.In 1990 cupid renewed a high school (1933) romance when she married Edward Austin Bragg and moved to the home he built by the lake in Anderson, South Carolina. They enjoyed many happy years together appreciating their gardens, birds, pets and their family life. She was welcomed and well tended to by her new South Carolina family.As health issues and disabilities developed, Virginia and Ed moved to Maine to live with her daughter Joy.She was predeceased by her brother Allen Gile, granddaughters Emily Gale and Bethany Hurd and her sister-in-law, Dora.Virginia is survived by her husband, Edward Bragg of Greenville, SC; daughter Bonnie Gale and husband William of MA; daughter Joy Gilkey of Acton; brother Leland Gile, Jr. of Las Cruces, NM; Edward's daughter Rosa Burkhart and her husband Ron, son Ted Bragg, and son-in-law David Patterson of SC; grandsons Seth Hurd of Acton, Michael Gale of Portland Greg Patterson of NC, Bobby Patterson of SC, Brian Patterson of OR and Eddie and Eric Bragg, currently away serving in the military; granddaughters Eileen Sweeney and Ellen Gale of MA and Julie Curll and her husband Charles of SC; and nine great-grandchildren.Virginia's family would like to express their gratitude for the fine care she received from the staff at Newton Center.A period of visitation will be held from 10:00 to 11:00 AM with a funeral service following at 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 30 at Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, 580 Main Street in Springvale. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Alfred.In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations be sent to the American Diabetes Foundation, 80 Elm Street, Portland, ME 04101. To leave a message of condolence for the family, please use the condolences tab to the left.