Obituary of Elma Vee Pridgen

Mrs. Elma Vee Sullivan Pridgen, a resident of Ozark, passed away Tuesday morning, July 21, 2020, after an extended illness in Oakview Manor Nursing Home in Ozark. She was 101 years old. Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M. Saturday, July 25, 2020, in the Chapel of Holman Funeral Home and Cremations in Ozark with Reverend Brian Michael Leatherwood officiating. Interment will follow in Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church Cemetery, Holman Funeral Home and Cremations of Ozark directing. The family will receive friends at the funeral home in Ozark Saturday from 10:00 A.M. until service time. Mrs. Pridgen was born January 24, 1919 in Dale County, Alabama to the late Richard Sullivan and Doshie Chalker Sullivan. Most of her life she resided in Dale County where she joined Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church in 1928. She was a devoted member and served on many committees. She worked with the Dale County School System and the Dairy Queen in Ozark for many years. Mrs. Pridgen operated the oil well on Hwy 231 in Ozark from 1970 – 1973. She owned and help operate Pridgen Grocery in Level Plains from 1973 – 1993. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 40 years, John Henry D. Pridgen; three brothers, Fred Sullivan, Truett Sullivan and Dixie Sullivan; and three sisters, Lucy Weeks, Lettie Waters and Effie Chancey; two sons, Gene Allen Pridgen (Dorothy) and Charlie Ray Pridgen; and one son-in-law, Larry Downing. She will be remembered as a devoted wife, mother and for her sweet smile. She always loved others and walked proudly through life following and spreading the word of the Lord. Survivors include two daughters, Betty Childree (Larry) and Mary Downing; one son, James Pridgen all of Ozark; eight grandchildren, Valorie Swanson, Tim Pridgen, Haley Firestine (John), Lisa Bloodworth (Richard), Toby Pridgen (Dana), Marcie Frier (Jonathan), Justin Pridgen (Alisa), and Brian Leatherwood (Maranda). Sixteen great grandchildren, seven great-great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews also survive.