Claudette S. Petty

Claudette Eve Saleeby (Petty) was born on June 29, 1939 in Wilson, NC to Helen and John Saleeby, and was raised in Wilson in a proud Lebanese family consisting of 6 brothers and 1 sister.

After graduating from Charles L. Coon High School in Wilson, NC, she attended Barton College in Wilson, NC where she received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Education and embarked on a 30-year career as a High School Teacher.

Claudette relocated to Virginia Beach, VA where she began her first teaching job at Frank W. Cox High School. During a costume party on the North End of Virginia Beach, she met a handsome Naval pilot named Jim Petty who would end up being the love of her life and husband of 55 years! When Jim asked her what she did for a living, she decided to tell a story and say she was a country music singer, which Jim found funny and endearing. After an international romance through letters and phone calls, which included Jim buying her a diamond ring during a port visit in Naples, Italy and mailing it to her, Jim and Claudette were married in Wilson, NC on April 10, 1965.

After getting married, Claudette held teaching jobs in Wapakoneta, OH and Wilson, NC and gave birth to 2 sons between 1965 and 1975. While in Wapakoneta, OH, her and Jim lived across the street from Neil Armstrong’s parents, became good friends with them, and watched the moon landing at their house when their son landed on the moon on July 20, 1969. After moving to Raleigh, NC in 1976, Claudette taught high school at East Wake High School in Wendell, NC for 20 years.

Claudette lived in the beautiful city of Raleigh, NC for 50 years with her husband, raising 2 children (Richard and David), going on beach vacations, cooking good Lebanese food, and surrounding herself with an incredible group of family and friends too numerous to mention. Once she retired from teaching, she was blessed with 6 grandchildren and spent the next 26 years as a beloved Cittee hosting large family gatherings, and spending quality time with her husband, children, grandchildren, sister, brothers, nieces, nephews, and Bridge Buddies/best friends. Claudette was one of the kindest people to ever walk this Earth, a person of profound faith, and a woman who was extremely proud of her Lebanese roots who brought immense pride and respect to the Saleeby name. She lived an amazing life and the pure joy she shared with her family and the love she shared with all of us shall never be forgotten.

Claudette is survived by her son Richard (Cathy) Petty of Raleigh, NC; her son David (Lisa) Petty of Virginia Beach, VA; grandchildren Helen Petty, Sullivan Petty, and Ryan Petty of Raleigh, NC; grandchild Drew Snodgrass of Summerville, SC; grandchild Hannah Petty of Jacksonville, FL; grandchild Stella Petty of Virginia Beach, VA; sister Shirley Willett of Raleigh, NC; brother Ralph Saleeby of Raleigh, NC; niece Tamara Petty of Chapel Hill, NC; and great niece Sara Petty of Winston Salem, NC.

Claudette is preceded in death by her husband James Petty; mother Helen Saleeby; father John Saleeby; brothers George Saleeby, Lawrence Saleeby, Wade Saleeby, Fred Saleeby, Mitchell Saleeby; and brother-in-law Michael Willett.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the Alzheimer’s Association at https://www.alz.org/. If you wish to write a personal message with your donation, follow the directions on website and send by e-mail to Rick & David Petty at [email protected], or by Postal Mail to Rick & David Petty, 1108 Paine Court, Raleigh, NC 27609.