After the loss of her father as a young girl, Ms. Petty and her mother moved from Indiana to California, joining family members that had migrated west to work in the aviation industry. Ms. Petty made her home for many years in Memphis, TN, where she was a member of Crossroads Baptist Church. A woman of deep faith, she loved to attend church services and found great joy in her fellowship there. An avid St. Louis Cardinals fan, she rarely missed a game on TV and followed her favorite team closely. Her adventurous spirit led her to travel as much as she could. Like her mother, she was an excellent artist. Ms. Petty loved to cook and her home was the gathering place for many large family meals over the years. She also enjoyed gardening, reading scripture, and participating in her grandchildren’s school events and activities.
Ms. Petty left Memphis in 2015 and moved to North Carolina to live with her daughter and son-in-law, Julie & Todd Prayner of Shawboro. No matter where she lived in her lifetime, California, New Mexico, or Tennessee, she was always a Hoosier at heart and maintained close ties to her family there.
She is survived by her six children: Connie Wilhite Sandidge (Lamar) of Millington, TN, Janice Wilhite Kruger (Randy) of Collierville, TN, David Wilhite (Elise) of Savannah, TN, Robert Wilhite (Kelly) of Lawrenceville, GA, Julie Anderson Prayner (Todd) of Shawboro, NC, and Lisa Anderson of Memphis, TN.
Ms. Petty was an adoring “Nanny” to her nine grandchildren: Samantha Prayner Balmer (Corey), Cassidy Kruger, Joe Sandidge, Nathan Wilhite, Robyn Prayner Cooper (Cody), Connor Kruger, Cory Wilhite, Aarron Taylor, and Sarahanne Prayner Miller (Levi), and four great-grandchildren: Owen Balmer, Nolan Cooper, Maverick Balmer, and Addison Cooper.
Ms. Petty also leaves a beloved uncle, Jack Waddell, of Castaic, CA and aunt, Mary Morford, of Indianapolis, IN, as well as numerous cousins in both California and Indiana.
Ms. Petty’s unwavering faith in Jesus and spending eternity in Heaven defined who she was as a person. A gathering of family and friends will be from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 3700 N Germantown Rd , Bartlett, TN 38133. We will celebrate a life well lived in the Lord at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 3700 North Germantown Road, Bartlett, TN 38133 on Monday, January 30, 2023 at 2 p.m., interment will follow.
Children and causes that supported them were very important to Ms. Petty. If you are so moved, in lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in her memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN. www.stjude.org
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MemphisFuneralGermantownParkway.com for the Petty family.
