Virginia "Ginny" Wells Stola

Virginia “Ginny” Wells Stola passed away peacefully in Columbus, Georgia, on January 30, 2026. Ginny was born on May 30, 1946, in Kearny, New Jersey, to Dorothea and Ernest L. Wells. At a very young age, she moved with her family to Albany, Georgia, where she grew up alongside her two older brothers.

Ginny graduated from Albany High School and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in library science from Valdosta State University. It was during her college years that she met her husband, David Anthony Stola of Valdosta, Georgia, at a sorority and fraternity mixer. The pair married on August 9, 1969, and shared nearly 46 years together until David's death in 2015.

Known affectionately as “GiGi” by her grandchildren, Ginny was a strong-spirited woman who did not hesitate to speak her mind. Her greatest joys included spending time with her family, exploring her family’s history through genealogy, and her cherished involvement with the Girl Scouts in her youth.

Ginny is survived by her daughter, Sara E. Davenport (R. Jason); her grandchildren, Wren and Camille Davenport; her brother, Donald Wells; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, David A. Stola; her brother, Roger Wells; and her parents, Dorothea K. and Ernest L. Wells.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to Ginny’s devoted caregivers. A private graveside service will be held on May 22, 2026 at Arlington Memorial Park Cemetery in Kearny, New Jersey.

In honor of Ginny’s memory, the family invites donations to the Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia or to Columbus Hospice of Georgia and Alabama.