Virginia
Butterfield
April 16, 2020
Virginia D. (Gale) Butterfield, 70, died at Rhode Island Hospital on Thursday, April 16, 2020 at 7:32 am. Virginia was born in Salisbury, MD, on April 22, 1949. She was the only daughter of the late Margaret (Jones) and John L. Gale, Sr. Virginia attended school in Princess Anne, MD. She was a dedicated 1967 Dragons graduate of Somerset Junior and Senior High School. Virginia moved to Rhode Island and married Ronald E. Clary, Sr. (deceased) on November 16, 1968 but they later divorced in 1983.
Virginia lived in RI for more than 50 years. She worked as a supervisor of the radiology file department at RI Hospital. “During her years as supervisor of the radiology file department at Rhode Island Hospital” Dr Gerald Abbott, Director of Chest and Imagining, recalls that “Virginia became known as a superb leader, a tireless worker, and a loyal friend to many. She had the best work ethic of any employee at the hospital and led her staff by great example. I worked with her for 17 years and saw first-hand how she treated everyone with kindness and helped them with her great energy and expertise...” Virginia always strived for higher education because she believed that education was one of the most important keys for financial and personal success in life. She took courses at Community College of Rhode Island and Bryant College. Virginia worked for Rhode Island Hospital for 39 years, retiring in 2011.
After retiring from Rhode Island Hospital, Virginia began volunteer work at Miriam Hospital visiting sick seniors. She also did Private Duty work for seniors whose families needed extra help. December 22, 2014, Virginia started working as a Receptionist for the Center for Care - Bannister House. She took a leave of absence to care of her mother July 2018 to February 2019. After her mother passed Virginia returned to work for the Bannister House until March 30, 2020, when she left work ill. Everyone loved her there.
Virginia was an active member of the Devine Deliverance Baptist Church and held several roles to include Treasurer and Usher. Her earlier roles in the church included singing in Choirs. In 2012, Virginia was awarded “First Mother of the Year”. Virginia was also a member of the Urban League of Rhode Island and a member of the Mount Hope Cowboys Association. Virginia participated in various charity events to include the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association. Her public service also included being a Notary Public for more than 15 years. Virginia’s passions were gatherings with family and friends, cooking, entertaining, traveling, dancing, playing card games and bowling. She belonged to a couple of bowling leagues and a card playing league. Virginia enjoyed baseball, her team was the Boston Red Sox. She also loved football and was an avid Patriots fan. Virginia was exceptionally friendly; she spoke to everyone. She had the most beautiful smile and a laugh that tickled the soul.
Virginia leaves to cherish her precious memory, her husband of 19 years Hilgrove W. Butterfield, Sr.; her children Lisa M. Budram (Winston) of Owings Mills, Maryland; Antoinette F. Gale and Ronald E. Clary, Jr. both of Providence, Rhode Island; step children Hilgrove “William” Butterfield, Jr. of Johnston, Rhode Island, and Teri Butterfield of Homestead, Florida; her grandchildren Michael R. Budram of Kalamazoo, Michigan; Lisa M. Gale, Toka Kahn-Clary (Devannie), Lorenzo MacMullen, Allen Taylor Jr. all of Providence, Rhode Island; her step grandchildren William Butterfield, Joseph Butterfield and Ella Butterfield all of Johnston, Rhode Island, her great grandchildren Da’Shawn Veal, Derrick Montanez, Adeline Kahn-Clary, Royal Jones, Aijahlee Taylor, and Tae’lynn MacMullen all of Providence, Rhode Island; her one surviving Aunt Florence Holbrook of Mount Vernon, Maryland; her brothers Charles Wright (Anna Lorenzo), Roland Jones (Lois deceased), Robert Gale (Loretta), Bobby Gayle (Yvette deceased) all of Princess Anne, Maryland; many god-children, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Her brother John L. Gale, Jr. preceded her in death.
Her funeral will be private. Memorial contributions to Susan G Komen for Breast Cancer would be appreciated.
Virginia lived in RI for more than 50 years. She worked as a supervisor of the radiology file department at RI Hospital. “During her years as supervisor of the radiology file department at Rhode Island Hospital” Dr Gerald Abbott, Director of Chest and Imagining, recalls that “Virginia became known as a superb leader, a tireless worker, and a loyal friend to many. She had the best work ethic of any employee at the hospital and led her staff by great example. I worked with her for 17 years and saw first-hand how she treated everyone with kindness and helped them with her great energy and expertise...” Virginia always strived for higher education because she believed that education was one of the most important keys for financial and personal success in life. She took courses at Community College of Rhode Island and Bryant College. Virginia worked for Rhode Island Hospital for 39 years, retiring in 2011.
After retiring from Rhode Island Hospital, Virginia began volunteer work at Miriam Hospital visiting sick seniors. She also did Private Duty work for seniors whose families needed extra help. December 22, 2014, Virginia started working as a Receptionist for the Center for Care - Bannister House. She took a leave of absence to care of her mother July 2018 to February 2019. After her mother passed Virginia returned to work for the Bannister House until March 30, 2020, when she left work ill. Everyone loved her there.
Virginia was an active member of the Devine Deliverance Baptist Church and held several roles to include Treasurer and Usher. Her earlier roles in the church included singing in Choirs. In 2012, Virginia was awarded “First Mother of the Year”. Virginia was also a member of the Urban League of Rhode Island and a member of the Mount Hope Cowboys Association. Virginia participated in various charity events to include the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association. Her public service also included being a Notary Public for more than 15 years. Virginia’s passions were gatherings with family and friends, cooking, entertaining, traveling, dancing, playing card games and bowling. She belonged to a couple of bowling leagues and a card playing league. Virginia enjoyed baseball, her team was the Boston Red Sox. She also loved football and was an avid Patriots fan. Virginia was exceptionally friendly; she spoke to everyone. She had the most beautiful smile and a laugh that tickled the soul.
Virginia leaves to cherish her precious memory, her husband of 19 years Hilgrove W. Butterfield, Sr.; her children Lisa M. Budram (Winston) of Owings Mills, Maryland; Antoinette F. Gale and Ronald E. Clary, Jr. both of Providence, Rhode Island; step children Hilgrove “William” Butterfield, Jr. of Johnston, Rhode Island, and Teri Butterfield of Homestead, Florida; her grandchildren Michael R. Budram of Kalamazoo, Michigan; Lisa M. Gale, Toka Kahn-Clary (Devannie), Lorenzo MacMullen, Allen Taylor Jr. all of Providence, Rhode Island; her step grandchildren William Butterfield, Joseph Butterfield and Ella Butterfield all of Johnston, Rhode Island, her great grandchildren Da’Shawn Veal, Derrick Montanez, Adeline Kahn-Clary, Royal Jones, Aijahlee Taylor, and Tae’lynn MacMullen all of Providence, Rhode Island; her one surviving Aunt Florence Holbrook of Mount Vernon, Maryland; her brothers Charles Wright (Anna Lorenzo), Roland Jones (Lois deceased), Robert Gale (Loretta), Bobby Gayle (Yvette deceased) all of Princess Anne, Maryland; many god-children, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Her brother John L. Gale, Jr. preceded her in death.
Her funeral will be private. Memorial contributions to Susan G Komen for Breast Cancer would be appreciated.
Funeral Home
Thomas & Walter Quinn Funeral Home
2435 Warwick Avenue
Warwick, RI US 02889
Warwick, RI US 02889
