Virginia Atter Keys of Neptune Beach – elegant, compassionate, sensitive, charming, caring, funny, smart, devout, and loving, a larger than life woman for whom no obituary could ever do justice - passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, December 18, 2017. She was born in Gardner, MA, in the first half of the 20th century (she’d never tell you exactly when) to Sam and Josephine Atter, her beloved parents, who had immigrated from Jezzine, Lebanon.
A long-time resident of Jacksonville and Neptune Beach, Virginia graduated from Immaculate Conception High School. In high school she began singing at the old Roosevelt Hotel, leading to radio performances and a winning appearance on the Arthur Godfrey Talent program, where she sang “The Man I Love.”
But that performance began a 40 year career in television and radio, and earned her the title “First Lady of Television.” She started out as a talk show host and singer on a variety of shows for the first television station in Jacksonville – WMBR in 1949, all on live, black and white television. She learned to wing it and have a great sense of humor when things didn’t go according to script, a sense of humor that stayed with her the rest of her life. WMBR became WJXT TV 4, and Virginia continued to co-host talk and variety shows with her long-time friend, Dick Stratton, including “Here’s How,” “Good Morning Jacksonville” and “The Virginia Atter Show.” A woman ahead of her time, she also produced “The Glenn Reeves Show” and “The Jimmy Strickland Show.” During this time, she became good friends with Danny Thomas and worked with him to raise funds for what became her favorite charity, the St Jude’s Children’s Research hospital.
In 1972, she moved on to WTLV-TV 12. She continued hosting talk shows, and worked in advertising through the 80s; she was recognized wherever she went in Jacksonville, and she never met a stranger.
She was proud of being a professional entertainer, the work she did for St Jude, and in our community for the elderly. She was a sweet soul with a great heart.
She was preceded in death by her brothers and their wives – George (Rose) Atter, Phillip (Lois) Atter. And Mitchel Atter. Brothers-in-law Jim Jacobs and Ronnie Elder.
She is survived by the love of her life, Jim Keys, her husband of 56 years, and her sisters – Linda Elder, Lillie Disch (Jerry) and Loraine Jacobs, along with more nephews, nieces, great nephews and great nieces than we can count. She was “Aunt Nina” and she loved us all unconditionally. And we know that right now, she’s leading the angels, singing “I’ll See You in My Dreams.”
The mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 1:00 pm Friday, December 22, 2017 at St Paul’s Catholic church, 435 1st Ave N, Jacksonville Beach, with Father William Kelly serving as Celebrant. Burial will follow at H Warren Smith Cemetery. For those who prefer, memorial contribution may be made in Virginia Atter Keys’s memory to St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105 or stjude.org.
Arrangements are under the direction of Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, 1701 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville Beach, FL. Words of condolence may be shared at www.hardage-giddensbeacheschapel.com.
