Wilbur Robin Pridgen, 87, of Wilson died Thursday. Funeral services will be held Sunday, 7 p.m., at Joyner’s Funeral Home, 4100 Raleigh Road Pkwy. Pastor Leo Bennett will conduct the service. Burial will be Monday at 11 a.m. in Evergreen Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends Sunday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Wilbur was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend to all. He was a Wilson County Sheriff and law officer for 33 years. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during War World II. He was a lifetime member of Mt. Zion United Methodist Church.
He is survived by his wife, Janet Gay Mercer Pridgen; daughter, Robin Bess Pridgen Mercer of Wilson; stepdaughter, Gail Joyner and husband, Dean, of Wilson; stepson, Ray Mercer and wife, Mary Jo, of Bailey; daughter-in-law, Martha Pridgen of Wilson; grandsons, Jonathan Pridgen and wife, Sharon and Robbie Mercer, Matthew Mercer and wife, Natalie, all of Wilson; great- grandsons, Jackson and Jacob Pridgen, both of Wilson; stepgranddaughter, Renee Vick of Wilson; stepgrandson, Brandon Mercer and Bradley Mercer, both of Bailey; stepgreat-grandson, Matthew Vick of Wilson; sisters, Huldah Hart and Dora Jane Joyner, both of Elm City; brother, Fred Pridgen and wife, Doris, of Elm City; special friends, Dewayne and Elaine Honeycutt of Bailey.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Lillie Duke Pridgen; his first wife, Marjorie Thompson Pridgen; son, Wilbur T. “Butch” Pridgen; sister, Patsy Pridgen Finch; and three brothers, Richard, Thomas and William “Dub” Pridgen.
Flowers are welcome or memorial donations may be made to Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, 5326 London Church Road, Elm City, NC 27822 or the Silver Lake Volunteer Fire Department, 5215 Hornes Church Road, Wilson, NC 27896.
Condolences may be directed to www.joyners.net.