Virginia "Jo" Pirtle West

Virginia “Jo” West, 87, of Ashburn passed away Friday, October 24, 2025.

Jo was born on April 10, 1938 in Ringgold, Georgia to the late Bill and Hessie Pirtle. She moved to Turner County as a young girl and attended Sycamore Schools. While in high school, she worked at the drive-in theatre. She met the love of her life, Ronald West, while he was working at a local grocery store after serving in the United States Navy. They were married for 55 years. For many of those years, she worked alongside Ronald, his twin brother Raymond and sister-in-law Faye, operating West Brothers Grocery and at the same time raised her “grocery store” children, Rhonda and Russell. After West Brothers closed she continued to work at Morrison Grocery until 1997 when she became the love of her life’s caretaker.

Mama Jo, as she was affectionately known by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, loved nothing more than scrapbooking, going to the gym where she could pick up the latest news, working in her yard or enjoying a good catfish plate from Brown’s Seafood on Friday nights. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Ashburn and enjoyed attending Sunday School.

She is survived by her daughter, Rhonda West Carter; grandchildren, Austin Carter, Erin Carter Babb, Ashley West, Whitney West and Russ (Jessi) West; daughter-in-law, Pam West; great-grandchildren, Braydon, Bryce, Drake, Liam, Ashlyn, Rylee, Blaze and Avery; sister, Mary P. Wingate. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ronald West; son, Russell West and sister, Billie Jean Wingo.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at 2:00 PM at the First Baptist Church of Ashburn with interment to follow in Rose Hill Cemetery. The family will greet friends Monday, October 27, 2025 from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Perry Funeral Chapel.