Virginia Mitchell Irby Young, 100 years old, peacefully passed away in the very wee hours of December 31, 2023 in Mobile, Alabama. She was born in Huntsville, AL on May 11, 1923 to Claude Macarthur Mitchell and Lucinda Hereford Mitchell. Her siblings who preceded her were: Ira Vincent Mitchell, Margaret Mitchell Hindman, and Olive Jean Austin. Her youngest brother, Jimmy Mitchell, lives in Huntsville, AL.
Sometime after graduating high school, she moved to Mobile in order to attend courses to become an electrician to retrofit airplanes during World War II at Brookley Field. She was extremely proud of this accomplishment.
She married Grady C. Irby in 1947. He was in the US Air Force and from this union her two sons, Michael E. Irby (Chrissie) and Gary C. Irby (Karen) were born. As a military wife, her little family traveled and was stationed at various posts in the US and overseas. They returned to the states and moved to Mobile in 1959.
Virginia worked as a waitress for a combined total of 40 years. She worked at Constantine's Restaurant and John Word's restaurants. One of her fondest memories at Constantine's was serving Coach Bear Bryant. She talked of that meeting often and as most people know, she was a die-hard BAMA fan until the day she died. She loved being a waitress and enjoyed serving so many people of Mobile. If you are in your 70's and dined with your parents at Constantine's, Virginia probably served and showed you how to properly fold your dinner napkin or showed you which silverware to use.
Her husband, Grady C. Irby, died in 1978.
She met Earl H. Young in 1981 at Constantine's Restaurant. They courted, and were married in 1982.
She loved her Lord and Savior and was a faithful member of Dauphin Way Baptist Church. On Sundays she would help take care of the many babies and toddlers in its nursery.
After she retired, she started volunteering with Hospice. She was one of its best volunteers. After her husband Earl died in 2003, she continued as a Hospice volunteer for many years.
She adored her grandchildren, Nathan M. Irby, Garrett B. Irby (Becki), and Julie L. Irby. She has one great-grandchild, Gabriel Irby.
Virginia had many talents. She loved to cook. She was famous for her pound cakes. She crafted, played BINGO, and loved fishing.
Virginia was a faithful Christian and a good daughter, sister, wife, Aunt, Mother, Mother-in-law, Grandmother, Great-grandmother, and friend to so many. We all loved her. We all will miss her dearly.
May 11, 1923 — December 31, 2023
Funeral services will be held from the parlor of Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home on Friday, January 5, 2024 at 2pm. The family will receive friends from 1pm until service time Friday at the funeral home.
