Virginia Ann Dodd Locke

Virginia Ann Dodd Locke, age 94 of Columbia, Tennessee, passed away on August 1, 2025. She was born in the Burwood community and was the daughter of the late John Alexander Dodd (Zan) and Rebecca Louise Shaw Dodd. She attended Burwood Elementary School, graduated from Franklin High School and was a member of the Beech Grove Church of Christ. She married J. W. Locke on July 16, 1950. He preceded her in death on April 14, 2008. She was also preceded in death by brothers, Cal Dodd and Bill Dodd, sister, Rebecca Jackson, and nephew, Danny Dodd.

Jenny is survived by: daughter, Jill (Tim) McNeese; beloved grandchildren, Jake (Kayla) McNeese and Ben McNeese; cherished great-grandson, Jeremy McNeese; and sisters, Jane Elliott and Emily Butler; sister-in-law, Shirley Dodd Owen, and many nieces and nephews.

Jenny’s family was the joy of her life, and her days were filled pouring her heart into them. Her ever-present strength and devotion were anchored in her faith in God and her dedication to those she loved. Her days were lived to help others, and she was a talented cook and seamstress. She loved spending time outdoors on the farm that was her home for 55 years, especially time spent on her John Deere lawnmower. Many pets brought joy and companionship to her days through the years.

Her love, presence, wisdom, and laughter will be forever missed, but her strength and loving legacy will live on in the stories, smiles and memories of all who knew and loved her.

Thank you to everyone who has visited her, sent cards, and lifted her name in prayer. We would like to say a very heartfelt thank you to the Staff of The Lantern at Morning Pointe, Dr. David Hutchings, Anna Herring, and the team at Gentiva Hospice. You became our family as you provided care to her and to us. Thank you will never be enough for us to say for your kindness.

A Celebration of Life Service will be conducted at 2:00 PM on Saturday, August 9, 2025, at Spring Hill Memorial Funeral Home. Jake McNeese will officiate. Visitation will be from 12:00 PM until the service time at 2:00 PM. A burial will follow at Spring Hill Memorial Park.

Active pallbearers are: Jake and Kayla McNeese, Ben McNeese, Jeremy McNeese, Rayburn and Esther Grooms, and Lexie Sparkman. Honorary pallbearers are: her nieces and nephews, Josh Lunn, Jim Selbe, Mark Rector, Eddie Hickman, and Frank Curry.

Memorial donations may be made to Backlight Productions (www.backlightproductions.org), 2114 Quail Court, Franklin, TN 37064.