Virginia Cooper Bonds died May 22, 2007. Her planned gift designated Beckley Area Foundation as a beneficiary of a portion of a life insurance policy. This gift created a significant unrestricted fund which will generate much needed discretionary income used to respond to requests submitted through the annual community grant program. Virginia attended local schools and was a 1936 WWHS graduate, 1940 Marshall University graduate, and received her Masters Degree from Ohio State University in 1945. She was married to the late Woodrow Bonds and taught in area schools for 35 years. In addition to her career she was a member of the Eastern Star, the First United Methodist Church, Raleigh County Educators Association, and numerous other civic organizations.
