Ellen Beckett Prillaman

On Wednesday night, March 20, 2013, Ellen Beckett Prillaman, age 94, entered the Kingdom of Heaven, which she briefly visited during a critical illness many years ago. She was a devoted mother and grandmother, and she dearly loved and cherished her family and friends. She was proud of all of her family and always kept them in her thoughts and prayers. Ellen graduated from Callaway High School in 1938 and attended Radford State Teacher’s College for one year. She married John Medad Prillaman December 21, 1940, raised five children and was a homemaker all her life. In the mid 1950’s, she was a teacher at Callaway School for three years, but gave it up because she felt it was more important to be home with her family. In the mid 1970’s, she and John started up a small dairy operation and spent several years in production until turning it over to their sons. Ellen enjoyed playing the piano. She could read music, but was also able to play by ear. She enjoyed bird watching and loved cardinals, orioles, bluebirds, and especially hummingbirds. They brought her much joy and provided many hours of entertainment. She also loved butterflies and was thrilled when she caught a glimpse of one. During the years that her health permitted, Ellen thoroughly enjoyed working with flowers and gardening. Her favorite flowers were peonies and roses, but she loved all kinds. She also loved flowering trees and shrubs, and enjoyed brightly colored autumn leaves. Most of all, she loved her “little girl”, Missy Miss, a Norwegian elkhound, who faithfully slept on the floor at the foot of her bed every night. Ellen was born August 8, 1918, to the late Edgar A. and Callie Dudley Beckett and lived in the Phoebe Needles community until the age of twelve. She enjoyed sharing her history and memories of growing up. She fondly remembered attending St. Peters School and walking to school and to church in all kinds of weather. On the Sundays when the snow was too deep for her to walk in, her daddy would pick her up and carry her. Bad weather didn’t stop them, unless of course, the creeks were out of their banks. After they moved down to Callaway, she and her parents attended Piedmont Presbyterian Church. A few years later, Ellen joined Piedmont and had been a member since 1941. Ellen was preceded in death by her parents, Edgar A. and Callie Dudley Beckett; her husband, John M. Prillaman; two infant sons; her adult son, Harold W. Prillaman; her step grandchild, Toby Gearhart; and her brother, James Alfred Beckett. Ellen will always be lovingly remembered and will live on in the hearts of those who she has left behind on Earth. They include two daughters: Gloria L. Prillaman and Elizabeth Prillaman Klingel; two sons: J. Ralph Prillaman and wife Janice, and David K. Prillaman and wife Janet. Also surviving are her seven grandchildren: Karen Prillaman, Rea Prillaman, Amanda Prillaman, Lori Prillaman Webb and husband, Mike; J. D. Prillaman and wife Erin; Brian Prillaman and wife Melissa; and Stacy Prillaman Hall and husband Jamie. In addition, she is survived by her six great grandchildren and two step great grandchildren: Evan Webb, Ryan Prillaman, Lexie Prillaman, Mary Kendall Prillaman, Chris Hall, Austin Hall, Cody Morgan and Chelsea Webb. She is also survived by a brother-in-law, T. Jack Prillaman of Salem; several nieces, nephews, cousins, Callaway community neighbors and friends who have shown her kindness during the past years. The family would like to thank all of those who performed acts of kindness to Ellen, especially in her later years when she seldom was able to get out into the community. She loved visits, phone calls, and cards. She never forgot the kindness of friends and neighbors who made her 90th birthday celebration such a success, and she spoke of it often. Special thanks to Dr. J. Francis Amos for all the years he took care of Ellen. He always took special time with her and brought a smile to her face. Also, we are grateful to Mrs. Peggy Hale for her assistance to us in caring for Ellen during these past weeks. Funeral services will be conducted from the Flora Funeral Chapel, 665 South Main Street, Rocky Mount on Saturday, March 23, 2013 at 11 a.m. with Mr. Jack Milliron and Reverend David Codington officiating. Interment will follow at Mountain View Memorial Park. Visitation will be Friday night with the family receiving friends from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.