Columbus, Ohio Visitation Only

Family will receive friends on Wednesday January 22, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at Whites Funeral and Cremation Services, 867 S. James Road, Columbus, OH 43227.

The Homegoing Service will be held Friday, January 24, 2025 at Lee Street Baptist Church, Bristol, VA. 

Visiting hour will be 1:00 - 2:00 PM with the service immediately following.  Interment will be at Glenwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Lee Street Baptist Church.

Virgil Sensabaugh, 80, of Columbus, OH, passed away on January 16, 2025, after a  battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was born on August 3, 1944, in Bristol, VA, the youngest of nine children to Fred Brice Sensabaugh and Henrietta (Hord) Sensabaugh.

A gifted athlete, Virgil graduated in 1964 from Slater School in Bristol, where he excelled in basketball and football. He continued his education at Livingstone College in Salisbury, NC, before joining the Army Reserves and working for Eastman Kodak in northeastern Tennessee. Later, Virgil’s career took him to IBM in Kingsport, TN, where he worked until 1974.  In 1973, he made history by becoming the first Black person elected to Bristol City Council, a position he held with pride and dedication.

In 1974, Virgil’s professional journey brought him to Columbus, OH, where he spent the remainder of his career with IBM. He retired in 1995 as a Field Manager in the company’s Service Division, having built a reputation as a hardworking and respected leader.

After retiring, Virgil remained active and entrepreneurial. He founded a successful business renovating homes in both Columbus and Bristol. His creative passion extended to refurbishing and reupholstering furniture, where he skillfully transformed everything from tables to couches.

Virgil was well-known for his love of spreading joy during the holiday season. Beginning with a small tradition on Springdale Rd., he became a beloved figure in the community by playing Santa Claus and bringing Christmas cheer to families throughout Bristol. His efforts eventually grew into the “Sensabaugh Family Christmas Parade,” which brought holiday spirit to neighborhoods across the city until the late 1990s.

Virgil married Lenetta (Hammond) in 1965, and together they had three sons: Virgil Jr., Bryant, and Stephen. In 1982, he married Laundria (Roberts), and from that union came a daughter, Mia.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Laundria; and his eight siblings. Virgil is survived by his four children: Virgil Jr. of Copley, OH, Bryant (Keisa) of Richardson, TX, Stephen of Columbus, OH, and Mia (Jamil) of Upper Marlboro, MD; four grandchildren: Jordan, Jaeden, Brice, and Noah; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family and friends.

Virgil’s legacy of kindness, community spirit, and dedication to family will live on in the hearts of all who knew him.