VIRGINIA L.

MOORE OBIT – Scott Funeral Home, Jeffersonville, Indiana

Virginia L. Moore, 61, passed away on Derby Day, Saturday, May 6, 2023, after an extended
stay in the hospital for heart surgery and complications with her lungs and kidneys. Virginia was
born in Louisville, Kentucky, on February 16, 1962, and was raised in Jeffersonville, Indiana.
She was born to the late Embry Richard Moore and Anna Virginia (Dillon) Moore. In addition to
her parents, Virginia was preceded in death by her eldest sister, Patricia Ann Ellis, and numerous
pets whom she loved and adored.

Virginia is survived by “her person” as she called her loving spouse, Rowena “Row” Holloway,
and her remaining siblings, Richard “Dick” (Doreen) Moore, Linda (Mike) Bisig, and Karen
(Mike) Henry. She is also survived by 20 nieces and nephews and 12 great nieces and nephews.
Virginia also leaves behind her beloved “adopted” sisters, Vicki (Lonnie Cooper) Carmichael,
Jill (Tom) Phillips, and Lori (Rondle) Carmichael-Shields, her “adopted” brother, Randy (Alana)
Carmichael, and her “adopted” mother, Shirley Carmichael, many beloved friends, and her very
special sisters/friends in Willisburg, Kentucky. Her dogs, Teddy Bear and Georgia, also mourn
her passing as well as many other dogs who loved her over her lifetime.

Born into a primarily deaf family, her work ethic and values were shaped by the community’s
culture, and American Sign Language became her first language. Virginia attended Michigan
State University, but after the death of her father graduated from Indiana University Southeast
with a BA. She holds the highest level of interpreter certification from the National Association
of the Deaf (NAD), as well as the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) National Interpreter
Certification, and served as Governor Beshear’s interpreter, working side by side with him
during the pandemic, which heightened her popularity with the public locally, nationally, and
internationally.

Virginia has received numerous awards, including Communicator of the Year, the Virginia
Moore Access Award from First Lady Brittney Beshear, Jeffersonville High School Alumni of
the Year, 2022 Pegasus Parade grand marshal, and she was named a Kentucky Colonel, the
highest title of honor bestowed by the Governor of Kentucky. She had not one, but two,
Bobbleheads produced in her honor, as well as her own ice cream “Virginia S’Mores,” t-shirts,
beer and wine, and bumper stickers.

As a professional interpreter, she provided services for the USA Deaf Sports Federation, the
United States Deaflympic Committee, the Kellogg Foundation, and she enjoyed doing theatrical
interpreting all over the state. She interpreted for Prince Charles, now King, during a visit to
Louisville. Her career also provided her with many opportunities for travel, all over the United
States and the world, which she spoke of often, endearing her in the hearts of thousands of
people.

Virginia has served the deaf and hard of hearing community since 1995 at the Kentucky
Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (KCDHH) in Frankfort and held many roles
during her 28-year tenure. As the current Executive Director, she was instrumental in getting
legislation passed to improve the lives of the 750,000 deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing, and
speech impaired citizens of the Commonwealth by providing specialized telecommunications
equipment and expanding programs, such as the Access Center, to coordinate interpreter and
CART services for all state agencies. DeaFestival-KY was a favorite program of hers, allowing
her to give talented young deaf and hard of hearing performers and visual artists a space to
demonstrate their skills while developing a lifelong career, many of whom are now famous. Her
passion also included the education of all deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind children by
providing language acquisition from the beginning of life, so they may participate in school
equally with their peers. All KCDHH programs will continue to be carried out by her loyal and
dedicated staff, colleagues, and the exceptional board of Commissioners, who are all mourning
the loss of their leader, mentor, coworker, and friend.

Virginia will be missed by many who knew and loved her and by thousands who fell in love with
her during the pandemic. Somehow, “We will get through this (losing her), we will get through
this together.” Fly high dear Virginia. We will continue our leadership in LOVE in your honor
and memory.

A celebration of life service will be held on Sunday, June 11, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM in View
Pointe Hall on the top level of the Muhammad Ali Center located at 144 North Sixth Street,
Louisville, Kentucky 40202.

Memorial contributions may be made in her name to:

KSD Jacob’s Hall Museum
Kentucky School for the Deaf
303 South Second Street
Danville, KY 40422
or
Knowledge Center on Deafness
P.O. Box 618
Frankfort, KY 40602

Memories of Virginia, and messages of support for the family may be shared at:
www.ScottFuneralHome.com