Virginia Dare Nash

Virginia Dare Tanner was born on February 19, 1950, in Bernice, Louisiana, as the oldest child of James and Mildred Tanner. Her younger siblings, Mary Turner of San Diego and James "Pop" Tanner Jr. of San Diego, preceded her in death. Later in life, she gained another sibling, Dameon Montana of San Diego. Virginia was raised in San Diego and was affectionately known as "Gin" to her family.

In the 1960s, she met and married Claude Cartwright and, as a teenager, gave birth to Yvonne (Cartwright) Boyce, who preceded her in death, and Tina (Cartwright) Hardley of Los Angeles. Despite being a teen mother, Virginia was able to return to school and earn her high school diploma. She joined the Navy Reserves and was later employed as a corrections officer at the federal prison in downtown San Diego, where she spent many years before retiring. During that time, she gave birth to another son, Yakini Mitchell of San Diego. Also during this period, Virginia simultaneously completed law school, attaining her Juris Doctorate.

Years later, she remarried, and to this union, Areme (Clark) Meeken of San Diego was born. During this marriage, Virginia started a tour bus business that did very well for a while. She also adopted and raised Claude Cartwright Jr., the son of her first husband. In 2005, Virginia met and married Herbert Nash, who preceded her in death. For a long time, they ran a printing business together.

Virginia is survived by four of her adult children: Tina, Yakini, Claude Jr., and Areme; 16 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. God called Virginia home on May 1, 2025, at 4:56 p.m.

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