Virginia Guthrie lives on the opposite side of the Harralson house from the Kennedys. Colquitt describes Virginia as a true lady; a gentle, lovely and immaculate woman. Virginia is most active in the second part of the book, the book that spotlights the Sheehans. Colquitt describes Virginia as the caretaker of the neighborhood. She is the one who sits with the ailing, and comforts those who need comforting. It is for this reason that Virginia is so important to the second part of the novel. Virginia takes over as a friend and caretaker of Anita as Anita goes through her cycles of good and bad spells. Virginia also spends a great deal of time with Buck, listening as he talks out his concerns about his wife and her condition.