Virginia Randall Semmes, of Severna Park, passed away June 16 ^th , at 75 years old. Virginia Susan Randall was born November 4 ^th , 1944, in Chicago, Illinois, to Marianna and Jack Randall. The family moved to Nashville in 1960.  In Nashville, Virginia attended St. Bernard Academy for girls, where she met Patti Semmes. Virginia met Patti's older brother, Raphael Thomas Semmes, while waiting for Patti to carpool to school. Virginia started dating Raphael and they married in 1963. The new Mr. and Mrs. Semmes moved to New York, where Raphael worked for IBM. After Raphael joined the Army, the couple moved to Maryland where they welcomed 3 baby girls – within 3 years! Jennifer Susan Semmes was born in 1964, Marianna Pauline Semmes was born in 1965, and Carolyn Noelle Semmes was born in 1966. The family remained in Maryland after Raphael left the Army and had a 4 ^th daughter, Rachael Elizabeth Semmes, in 1973. After moving to their home in Severna Park, Virginia and Raphael had their 5 ^th daughter, Courtney Randall Semmes.

Virginia loved Maryland and often claimed she had lived in Maryland long enough to claim "native Marylander" status. She loved all things "Maryland" from eating crabs with Old Bay and rooting for the Ravens to performances at the Myerhoff and dinners at the Annapolis Yacht club. Virginia was passionate about cuisine and antique china. She owned an impressive collection of cookbooks from various countries and several sets of dishes from traditional to contemporary. The couple made many of their longtime friends in the Severna Park Gourmet Club and sought out restaurants of varied cuisines everywhere they went. Virginia's passion for dishes even blossomed into her online business - The Antique China Closet. Rivaling her love for food and antique dishes was Virginia's love of animals. Virginia loved all animals and her eyes lit up every time she saw one. She decorated her home with mallard ducks, loved petting horses, and couldn't pass a dog without saying how adorable it was.

Virginia was most proud of her life's work – her family. Virginia's love for her daughters was front and center in everything she did – including driving around to her adult daughter's houses on Valentine's day to deliver her homemade heart shaped cakes! She would spend hours on the phone with her daughters and wanted constant updates on the lives of her 19 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. Nothing brought Virginia more joy than being surrounded by her family. She was immensely proud of their lives, families, and accomplishments. She would tell everyone she met – whether or not it was solicited – about her wonderful daughters and their families.

Virginia cared deepest for the love of her life, her husband of 56 years, Raphael Semmes. The two of them were inseparable. They enjoyed spending time together and would go to great lengths to be with each other – even running errands together to maximize their time in each other's presence.

Virginia passed, peacefully, Tuesday morning. In addition to her husband, she is survived by her sister, Diane Dorsey, her daughters – Jennifer Herd, Marianna Ollice, Noelle Semmes, Rachael Cameron, and Courtney Semmes, her 19 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren.

Friends may visit Friday, June 19, 2020 from 4:00-8:00pm at Barranco Severna Park Funeral Home & Cremation Care,P.A. 495 Ritchie Hwy. Severna Park, MD 21146.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated on Saturday, June 20 ^th at 10:00am at the St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church 689 Ritchie Hwy. Severna Park, MD 21146. A private interment at the Crownsville Veteran's Cemetery will follow later in the week.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations, in the name of Virginia Semmes, to Hospice of the Chesapeake.

Covid-19 Pandemic Restrictions:

There may be a wait to enter Visitation at the Funeral Home due to capacity restrictions.

Everyone must wear masks or cloth face coverings per the Maryland Mask Order.

If you feel sick, have a fever, or have exposed to someone with coronavirus within the past 14 days, please do not attend any viewing, visitations or services.