Virginia Tippette Pridgen

Virginia Tippette Pridgen, age 21 and holding, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Monday, June 28, 2021. Born in Halifax County, NC on June 22, 1935, she was the daughter of the late Earlie Banks Tippette and Gatha Winfree Tippette. She was also preceded in death by her daughter, Sonya Pridgen Bunn; her brothers, Marvin Tippette and Danny Tippette; and her brother-in-law, J.C. Spell.

Virginia was the oldest of 10 children and her motherhood qualities started at a young age. She spent 11 years working at Carolina Telephone Company and she also worked as a bookkeeper with A.T.’s Maintenance, Inc. Virginia was a longtime member of Benvenue Baptist Church where her faith and love in Jesus Christ was revealed. She was a beautiful woman inside and out and she was devoted to her family. Virginia was a phenomenal mother who participated and was present in her children’s lives. It was important for her girls to know how to be prim and proper and to talk like ladies. For A.T. and her girls, to be well rounded and children of faith and integrity. She enjoyed reading, ceramics, bowling, and driving fast. Virginia was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and sister and will be dearly missed by all those who knew and loved her, but her loving spirit will never be forgotten as she was everything to her family.

Virginia is survived by her husband of 64 years, Alton Thomas Pridgen, Sr.; her son, Alton Thomas “A.T.” Pridgen, Jr. (Marion) of Rocky Mount; her daughter, Sharon Pridgen Whitehurst (Dalton) of Rocky Mount; her grandchildren, Brittany Taylor (Jordan), Shannon Pridgen, William Pridgen, Zachary “Jett” Bunn (Brittany), and Olivia Bunn; her great-grandchildren, Shaun Shackleford, Jr. and soon to be, Bodie Taylor; her brothers, Wayne Tippette (Barbara), Jake “Lucky” Tippette (Deloris), and Terry Tippette; her sisters, Joyce Tippette Spell, Jeanette Tippette Adams (Jerry), Donna Tippette Hudson (Jimmie), and Cynthia Tippette May (Al); and her son-in-law, John “Terrell” Bunn (Berrie).

A Funeral Service to celebrate Virginia’s life will be held on Thursday, July 1, 2021 at 12:30 PM in the Chapel of Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services with Chaplain Ricky Forkum and Rev. Wayne Ellis officiating. Burial will follow the service at Rocky Mount Memorial Park. Visitation with the family will be from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM prior to the service in the Atrium of Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home.

The family would like to say a special thanks to the Lord for the blessing she was to the entire family and to Jackie Richardson with Amada Senior Care; Sheikyha Phillips with Community Home Care & Hospice; her daughter-in-law, Marion Pridgen; and all of the other caregivers for their dedicated love and care for Virginia.

Flowers are welcome, or memorials may be made in Virginia’s memory to Alzheimer’s Association Eastern NC, 5171 Glenwood Ave., Suite 101, Raleigh, NC 27612.

Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. You may share memories and condolences with the family by visiting www.wheelerwoodlief.com.