Hettie Pridgen

Hettie Helen Gregg Pridgen of Harriman, formerly of Hot Coffee Mississippi, died July 18 at her home, after a short illness. She was born February 16, 1918 on Gregg Hill in Smith County, Mississippi. She was one of ten children born to William S. and Ada Vowell Gregg. She is the last of those ten children. Her parents preceded her in death as did the following siblings, Brothers: James David Gregg, George Martin Gregg; William Barney Gregg; Benjamin Leon Gregg; Lonnie Willard Gregg; Lloyd Thomas Gregg. Sisters: Ruby Esther Gregg McWhirt; Leila Emma Gregg Holt; and Mittie Alpha Gregg Bullard; her husband, Thomas J Pridgen died October 20, 2008. They were married 72 years. She is survived by a son, Joel B. Pridgen and wife, Faye, of Hot Coffee, Mississippi; Daughter, Joyce Goodman and husband, Mason, of Harrirman; grandchildren, J. Michael Pridgen and wife, Pamela, of Seminary, Mississippi; Paige Proffitt and husband, Jody, of Nashville, TN; Kelly Herndon of Taylorsville, Mississippi; and Seth Goodman of Seattle, Washington. Ms. Pridgen had six great grandchildren: Josh West and wife, Kristen, of Petal, Mississippi; Charles Devrow and Isaac Herndon, Taylorsville, Mississippi; Octavia Pridgen Oneisom and husband, Chris, of Honolula, Hawaii; Janee and Kyndall Proffitt of Nashville, Tennessee. She has five great, great grandchildren: Levi and Lauren West of Petal, Mississippi; Skyler and Amelia Grace Oneisom of Honolula, Hawaii; and Juniper Miel Proffitt Dunn of Nashville, TN; Sisters-in-law, Nelline Gregg, Madison, Mississippi; Jane Pridgen, Baton Rouge, LA; twenty-seven nieces and nephews; a host of great nieces, nephews and extended family, as well as many friends and very special neighbors in Dickey Valley, Harriman. She worked for many years for the J.C. Penney store in Laurel, Mississippi. When she moved to Harriman she worked for the Draper & Darwin Dress Shop on Roane Street; then she managed the S&H Green Stamp Redemption Center in Harriman. When it closed, she went to work for the Whiteway Variety Store and then the White Stores in Harriman and finally retired from the Kingston White Store. She was an expert seamstress and quilter. She enjoyed traveling, reading and fishing. She worked in her flowers and vegetable garden in the spring and summer, gathering vegetables and canning or freezing them for the whole family - she was a wonderful cook. She loved her family and friends and was a great encourager and prayer warrior. She was always willing to extend a hand of friendship and help to others. She was a member of Riverside Baptist Church, Harriman, and a member of the Steadfast Sunday School Class. In later years, she was unable to attend church but her church family kept in touch through the ladies of her Sunday School Class and the Homebound Ministry. Proverbs 31 sums up the life of Ms. Hettie: “Strength and honor were her clothing…she looked well to the ways of her household…her children arise up and call her blessed.” We love you and will always miss you but we have great peace, knowing that you are “…safe in the arms of Jesus.” We will see you in heaven! The family wishes to thank the very caring, compassionate nurses from Covenant Hospice and also everyone for every act of kindness and love shown them during this time. God bless you all! The family will receive friends from 1:30 to 3:30 with funeral to follow Sunday July 20, 2014 at the Kyker Funeral Home in Harriman Rev. Mason Goodman officiating. A private Entombment will be held at Roane Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Riverside Baptist Church, P.O. Box 811, Harriman, Tennessee or Calhoun Baptist Church, Taylorsville, Mississippi 39168.

Hettie Pridgen

February 16, 1918 - July 18, 2014