Dorothy Leach

Dorothy Pridgen Leach, 93, of Wilson, went home to be with her Lord Jesus Christ on Friday, August 7, 2020.

A graveside service celebrating her life will be held at Maplewood Cemetery, Wilson, on Monday, August 17, at 10:00 am, followed by visiting.  Mrs. Leach will lie in state at Wilson Memorial Service on Saturday, August 15, 2:00-5:00 PM.  Masks are requested.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband of fifty-eight years, H. L. (Roy) Leach; her parents, Pauline Farmer and Wade High Pridgen, Sr.; her brothers, Herbert Warren Pridgen (Delanie) and Wade High Pridgen, Jr. (Gwen); her niece, Lynda Pridgen Malpass; and her nephews, Richard Wade Pridgen and Richard Leroy Leach; cousins, Virginia Sasser Conley, Mary Conley Gill, A.C. Joyner, Richard Joyner, Catherine Lewis Reynolds, Elizabeth Lewis Savage, Eldie Lewis Von Miller, Ellen Pridgen Batts and Donna Lynn Pridgen; aunts, Nora Farmer Joyner, Etta Farmer Lewis and Gretchen Pridgen Morris; uncles, Willard Pridgen (Lucille) and Harry Alton Pridgen (Mary Ellen); mother-in-law, Louise Conley Leach; brother-in-law, Robert Hugh Leach (Fran).

She is survived by her daughter, Julia Leach Matthews (Lee); her grandson, Philip Lee Matthews; her granddaughter, Tiffany Matthews Thorne (Jarrett); her great-granddaughter, Eden Olivia Thorne; her brother, Donald Farmer Pridgen (Glenyce); her dear friend and sister-in-law, Elizabeth Leach Hardison (David); nieces and nephews, Kent Pridgen (Shellie), Sherry Pridgen Andras, Donald Scott Pridgen, Jennifer Pridgen Williams (York), Robert Hugh Leach, Jr. (Jane), Karen Elizabeth Hardison (Amy) and David Bruce Hardison (Joann); many great nieces and nephews; cousins, Thomas Bruce Conley (Deckie) and Eloise Conley Gardner.

Dorothy was a member of First Christian Church of Wilson, where she taught in the children’s department, assisted with the Chi Rho fellowship for junior high, was a member of the Fellowship Sunday school class, and served on the communion committee.

She was a graduate of Charles L. Coon High School and completed the commercial course of study at Atlantic Christian College. She was employed as deputy clerk of court for Wilson County and by First National Bank.

In 1958, Dorothy chose to become a full-time mother to Julia and served for six years as a grade mother at Winstead Elementary School, where – as a student – she had received the DAR Good Citizenship Medal in 1938. Her hobbies included baking, biking, floral arrangement, gardening, writing poetry, playing her piano, shopping, collecting dolls, and entertaining children and teens in her home.

Memorial flowers are welcome as are donations to the children’s and youth programs of First Christian Church, P. O. Box 2702, Wilson, N.C. 27894.

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