Virginia Nell (Holtzclaw) Arnau

Virginia Nell Arnau, age 86, died Saturday, December 3, 2022 at Halifax Health Hospice Edgewater.  Born in Atlanta, GA to Morris and Mattie Mae Hubble Holtzclaw, Virginia came to the area in 1947 from Somerset, KY.

Mrs. Arnau was a homemaker who volunteered her time as a board member for our local Head Start program here in Volusia County.  She was also credited with starting along with a few friends, Cormeth Day School in 1970.  After the death of her daughter Elisa in 1980, she began a scholarship entitled The Students for International Understanding, sending 10 high school students over a 10 year period as ambassadors to over 10 different countries worldwide.  As a host through the 70's and 80's to a local exchange program, The Experiment in Intl Living, Virginia and her family housed people from all over the world promoting cultural exchange and understanding. In her later years she obtained her A.S. in Mental Health Counseling from Daytona State College and worked at Stewart Marchman for a brief period in the 90's.  Her greatest loves were her grandsons Matthew and Jack, playing her beloved BRIDGE, and her kitties.

Survivors include her daughter Julia (Jim) Mitchell; two stepsons Richard (Susan) Arnau, and William Arnau; three grandchildren Matthew Jasper (Ange), and James “Jack” Mitchell and Christopher Arnau (Suzanne).  She leaves behind nieces and nephews as well.  She was preceded in death by her husband Robert L. Arnau in 2003, her daughter Elisa in 1980 and parents Dr. Morris Holtzclaw of Somerset, KY in 1977, and Mrs. Mae Henry of New Smyrna Beach in 1996.  
In lieu of flowers, please make monetary donations to Halifax Health Hospice and provide a small random act of kindness in her honor.

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