Birth date: Mar 31, 2010 Death date: Jan 27, 2026
Mary Virginia Stacey, affectionately known as “The Hornet,” “MV,” and “Virgie,” passed away at the age of 15 on January 27, 2026, at Arkansas Children's Hospital-Northwest, leaving behind a world that is now quieter and missing a Read Obituary
With love and prayers, Chris and Kira O’Shaughnessy
I had the privilege of growing up with Mary Virginia from 3rd through 8th grade. I’ll always remember our group of eleven girls squeezed around the lunch table, laughing endlessly, usually because of one of her stories. She had a way of making everyday moments more fun and was friends with everyone. I loved cheering her on to shoot three-pointers during basketball games, as she had such a sharp shot. Whenever she made one, she’d wink at me with a smile. I’ll always cherish the memories of our school years together, of us playing four-square at recess, laughing at lunch, and even dancing together with a street performer in DC. Being around her meant you would be laughing and happier than when you came. Rest easy, MV, you will always be loved.
Nine years ago, I wrote a story on Mary Virginia.
I sat at the kitchen table with her mother for several hours on a cold afternoon in January. I listened to her recount some dark days in October of 2017 when Mary Virginia had to be transported to Children’s Hospital in Little Rock and spent several weeks battling for her life with what was eventually diagnosed as viral myocarditis.
Meanwhile, this plucky seven-year-old, little sprite of a girl with giant eyes stared at me.
I knew the welcome home cake on the kitchen counter was way more important to her than the story her mom was telling me. But, she seemed unfazed. She was a survivor.
I was impressed with her fearlessness and her resiliency. How, despite her health, she was tackling each day with gusto.
I was changed by her story as I hoped others would be when they read of this little girl with undaunted courage and a miraculous recovery.
The truth is, anyone who knows Mary Virginia’s story is changed.
Her life was a testimony to living fearlessly and joyfully.
My encounters with her since then have been brief, but I have watched her grow from that little girl, to the kid sister of Annalise, following her around, watching her in high school, until she herself became a beautiful young woman with an infectious smile.
It’s often said that people can be better for knowing someone. With Mary Virginia, we can all feel blessed for knowing her. Her time on earth feels brief, but in that time, she impacted a lifetime of people and spread love and hope to all she encountered.
https://arkansas-catholic.org/2018/01/30/healing-for-fayetteville-girl-called-gods-intervention/
I remember a few years ago all of us were at the Stacey's house. Elsie drove a four-wheeler with Mary, Sam and me. We were trying to get away from Joseph, Brandon, and Whit because they were shooting at us with gel guns. It was a fun time that I'll always remember.
Stories for a few of the pics I posted… the girls after buying fake ear cuffs/rings (whatever they called them) at Claire’s, and MV was scared for me to send the pic to Adriana without saying j/k… she knew the look would not go over well, lol. A pic of a day at SDC when it was a torrential downpour and we were all cranky except for MV, she kept the lights on and spirits high, even better than us adults. A pic of MV and Elsie in matching dresses but they didn’t want Nora to feel left out, so they picked one out of Nora’s closet that was similar. Mary had a heart of gold and wanted everyone to feel special and joyful.
Recently, she got to dance with the Sapphires at OCA for the pep rally because we were short on dancers. During the one practice she attended, there was not a single moment where nobody wasnt smiling or having fun. It was the most fun dance practice I got to enjoy. She always lit up the room and always shined.
