Patricia Thael Pittman Daughtridge

Patricia Thael Pittman Daughtridge, aged 86, went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Saturday, January 11, 2025.

 A “Celebration of Homegoing” service will be held at 3:00 pm, Sunday, January 19, at First Baptist Church in Tarboro, NC, with Pastor John Rosal officiating. A visitation time with family will be held prior to the service at 2:00 P.M. There will be no graveside service.

Patricia, also known as “Pat” to many, was born in Rocky Mount, NC on November 3, 1938 to Linwood C. Pittman and Letha Mae (Parrish) Pittman. She developed an early love of art and was a prolific painter, as well as pen and ink artist; she particularly appreciated and studied modern art. This passion led to a long career as a public school art teacher and she enjoyed passing along her knowledge and skills up until her final days. Pat also excelled early at sports and was a high school basketball player. She continued to participate in active recreational activities into adulthood, even if it meant having her newborn daughter in a bassinet at the lanes on league bowling nights.

As a teenager, she met the love of her life, Glenn Daughtridge, while helping to put in tobacco on his family’s farm; they first kissed in a tobacco barn. Glenn gave Patricia the nickname “Shorty”, a humorous nod not only to her height but to his lack thereof. They were married on November 3, 1957 at Calvary Baptist Church, Rocky Mount, NC and lived in various locations as Glenn moved through the ranks of the Carolina Telephone and Telegraph Company. Their daughter, Kelly was born in Henderson, NC, with their second daughter, Blair, being born in Wilson, NC. The life of a “telephone company” family meant moving on a frequent basis and Pat and Glenn developed deep, lifelong friendships with company families. Patricia and Glenn eventually settled in Tarboro, NC, where they also spent their retirement years. A particular passion was travel (including international travel) with close relatives that many times would include the children, providing them with unique insight into the larger world in which they lived. Finally, Pat loved “Pamlico”, the Daughtridge family “shack” on the Pamlico River, which provided decades of joy, laughter, and a lifetime of memories for her children and grandchildren.

Patricia received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Art from Atlantic Christian College (now Barton University), Wilson, NC and taught for many years at both the elementary and middle school levels in various schools within the North Carolina Public School system. Pat was a proud educator and actively supported educational efforts, to include those at the local community college and public library.

Patricia loved her Savior, Jesus Christ. She was an active member of First Baptist Church, Tarboro, serving as a faithful choir member (often singing “specials” as a soloist or part of a larger group) and, eventually, as a deacon. She loved the FBC congregation and truly appreciated the outpouring of support and care provided to her in the years following Glenn’s passing.

Finally, Patricia deeply loved her family. She was a loving daughter to Linwood and Letha Mae, as well as sister to her brother “Boots” Pittman. She and Glenn both modeled servant love in how they helped shepherd their older parents in their final years, while raising two loving daughters. During family moves and career changes, Patricia was first and foremost a devoted wife and loving mother and, eventually, grandmother. “MaMa”, as she was known to her grandchildren Joshua, Patrick and Zachary, doted on the three and never lost an opportunity to tell others about their recent accomplishments. Patricia also cherished her extended family of cousins on both her and Glenn’s side of the family; some of the happiest moments of her life were being a part of large family gatherings during Thanksgiving, Christmas, or summers at Pamlico.

Patricia was preceded in death by Ulyss “Glenn” Daughtridge, her beloved husband of 57 years. Also preceding her in death were her parents, Linwood C. and Letha Mae (Parrish) Pittman, her brother Linwood D. “Boots” Pittman, and uncle Fred Parrish and his wife, Jackie; sister-in-law Rachel Daughtridge and, relative by marriage but also a true, lifelong friend and travel partner Margaret Barnes. She is survived by daughters, Kelly Daughtridge Little and husband, Bo, of Concord, NC, Blair Daughtridge Livesay and husband, Cary Livesay, Jr., of Crofton, MD; “adopted daughters” Lynne Ross Boyd and Margaret “Meg” Barnes Cooke; grandchildren, Joshua Little, Patrick Livesay and wife Abby, and Zachary Livesay; brothers-in-law Alvin Daughtridge and his wife Judy, Charles Daughtridge, and Rue Moles Pittman; sister-in-law Mary Fond DeBreicht and husband Bob and family; cousins/nieces/nephews Freda (Parrish) Arthur and husband Bob and family, Alan Parrish and wife Melinda and family, Luther Matthew “L.M.” Barnes III, Meg (Barnes) Cooke and her husband Harry and family, Luther Matthew “Matt” Barnes IV and family, Tina (Daughtridge) Webb and husband Kelly and family, Lynne (Daughtridge) Jones and husband Dan and family, Mark Daughtridge, Charles Daughtridge, Jr. and family, and Emily Daughtridge.

Those who would like to send flowers are invited to use “Flowers and Gifts by Roberts” in Pinetops, NC for local delivery to First Baptist Church of Tarboro, NC where services will be held. Call 252-827-5616 or visit flowersandgiftsbyroberts.com. 

We ask those who would prefer to donate to please consider a gift to: 

The Glenn and Patricia Daughtridge Endowed Scholarship at Edgecombe Community College, edgecombe.edu.

Convoy of Hope, a Christian Disaster Relief Fund, who is already doing amazing work in the mountains of NC and in Los Angeles, CA, where the fires are raging: Convoyofhope.org.

Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian organization with many US and global disaster relief ministries and programs, including Operation Christmas Child: Samaritanspurse.org

Arrangements have been entrusted to Whitley’s Funeral Home, Kannapolis, NC.

Finally, the family is extremely grateful to the residents and staff of Taylor Glen Senior Living in Concord, NC for providing a warm, welcoming and supportive environment during Patricia’s final days on earth.