An anonymous writer penned these words – “Mathematics may not teach us to add love or subtract hate, but it gives us hope that every problem has a solution.”
A beloved educator of TCCHS with double majors in both math and English, Mrs. Virginia Boyd Shanklin Howard, 76, of Elkton, left imprints on the lives of many students at TCCHS and at Hopkinsville Community College in her years teaching math, at various times teaching computer classes and overseeing technology at TCCHS, and at other times occasionally using her many talents in an English classroom. Her love of her content led in years following her retirement to her tutoring students in both of her majors, always willing to provide the knowledge needed to enable students and young adults to succeed. Through a Virginia Howard Scholarship established with the Todd County Retired Teachers’ Association, her family shared these words in her obituary – “Her love of math and belief every student possesses an ability to learn will live on for generations to come.”
Anyone who scans Facebook posts regarding Ms. Virginia will smile and concur Ms. Virginia’s legacy is one that will remain unbelievably strong for decades. The daughter of the late Estill and Elizabeth Shanklin, Ms. Virginia and her late husband, Sheril Howard, raised four daughters, Cindy Howard (Mike Metcalf); Leslie (Marcus) Reese; Andrea (Lonnie) Jones; and Margaret (Ryan) Hinkle; ten grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Her obituary also points out, “She took tremendous interest in and had a special relationship with each one.” That development of others stands out as she mentored so many students during both her years teaching and later during her retirement. Obviously, her love of all a part of her life is also apparent as she continued her “teaching and mentoring” with the young ones of her family.
Noting he loved her reaction when she learned he was Ms. Virginia’s grandson Jackson’s Sunday school teacher, Jon Robertson, a former TCCHS student of Ms. Virginia’s, shared, “She was the best; she loved me, and I gave her no reason to in algebra class.” Another student, Tracy Denny Benton, added, “My most vivid memory of Ms. Virginia was when the family had birthdays one year; she brought the gifts to school, and in study hall she let us wrap them in brown paper. We even got to draw on them and color them.” Commenting she reminded Ms. Virginia of a friend of years past, Ms. Phyllis Stokes Reynolds, posted, “She always called me ‘Peaches.’” Ms. Phyllis also shared she typically smiled and laughed whenever Ms. Virginia reverted to her personally given sobriquet.
Stating Ms. Virginia believed in her before she believed in herself, Tina Kirkman Young, a registered nurse who works at Logan Memorial and another of Ms. Virginia’s many students, penned, “She always showed me such love. When I became a nurse, she told me she knew I could do it!” Other words Facebook friends described Ms. Virginia with included wonderful, kind, caring, fine, special, amazing, and motivating. Another past student, ShaRee Thomas, added, “She believed in her students no matter what their background was or where they came from. She’s one reason I did a math minor when I was an undergrad years ago.” Still another former student, Tracey J. Rager, penned, “She wrote in my yearbook – ‘You’ve been some study hall student. Be good.’” Tracey added, “I never forgot that. She was some teacher!”
The anonymous writer of years ago knew full well mathematics cannot force us “to add love or subtract hate, but it gives us hope that every problem has a solution.” Ms. Virginia well understood that anonymous writer’s knowledge of life. Love was added everywhere Ms. Virginia sojourned, and the removal of hatred in the world she was a part of resonated strongly to everyone in her presence. Within a few hours of her obituary being online, over 150 comments have been posted on Latham Funeral Home’s website with over 500 or more comments already shared with the daughters Ms. Virginia loved so dearly. We all could well benefit from Ms. Virginia’s example and strive hard to promote love as a solution to the many problems our world faces. Even in her death, she is still teaching us with her wisdom and the lasting imprints she made on the lives of so many. Donations to Ms. Virginia’s scholarship through the Todd County Retired Teachers’ Association can be mailed to the organization’s mailbox at P.O. Box 1002, Elkton, KY 42220.
~ Article by Carolyn L. Wells
October 17, 2024
