Obituary: FOXY GUNTER PULLIAM
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Foxy Ann Gunter Pulliam passed away at Jacob’s Creek Nursing Center on Sunday morning, March 24, 2024. Foxy was born May 23, 1930, in Rockingham County, the 7th child born to John Elzie Gunter and Dot Bryan Gunter.
She was preceded in death by her parents: 5 brothers and 4 sisters: Victor Hugo Gunter, John Ewell Gunter, Nancy Dott Tuttle Stevens, Thomas Lee (Jim) Gunter; Effie Ruth Moore; Elzie Foy (Exie) Gunter; Eva Natalene Walker; Frank Watson Gunter and Winnie Maureen Joyce.
She was preceded in death by her husband Paul Carter Pulliam. They were married on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1951. Katie, her niece said, “When Paul returned home from the Korean War, Foxy ran to greet him.” Katie further said she “would never forget it.”
Foxy is survived by her son Rodney Paul Pulliam. He was born January 17, 1953. Foxy, Paul, and Rodney lived in Mayodan on Virginia Street for 21 years before moving to Stokes County in November of 1974.
The children of Foxy’s siblings were always special to her. Her nieces and nephews include those who preceded her in death: Dot, Gary, Kay, and Roger. Those surviving nieces and nephews include: Katie, Wanda, Bonnie, Tommy, Boyd, and Penny.
Foxy and Paul enjoyed many trips during vacation week and then again on Labor Day with her sisters’ families, the Walkers and the Joyces to Atlantic Beach. These families would pack into a small cottage and they shared many wonderful times together. White Lake was another favorite vacation place.
Foxy and Paul did a lot of traveling: Hawaii, Niagara Falls, Grand Canyon, Crazy Horse Memorial, Maine, Florida, South Dakota, etc.
They went to Disney World, 6 Flags over Georgia, and Carowinds.
Foxy travelled to Israel and Egypt. She even rode a camel in Egypt.
In later years many trips were planned around antique shows, flea markets and yard sales. They searched for White House Vinegar jars, Jumbo Peanut Butter jars, and other collectibles. Thistle glassware and Norman Rockwell collectibles were among her favorites. These trips would take them to many interesting places: Hillsville, VA; Dublin, VA; Fishersville, VA, Cameron, NC; Liberty, NC.; and the World’s Longest Yard Sale through Tenn.
Saturday mornings often included the world of flea markets: Eden, Martinsville, Roanoke, and Salisbury. Tuesday morning trips were often made to Lexington. These ventures stretched from Alabama to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Once the vehicle was parked, the adventure and treasure hunting began.
Among Foxy’s favorite TV programs was “The Waltons.” They went up into Virginia and visited Walton’s Mountain. She and Paul went to Dawsonville, GA, where they waited in a long line to met Bill Elliott, the NASCAR driver.
Paul loved the gatherings of his army buddies from the Korean War. The last years of Paul’s life included trips with Foxy and sometimes other family members to Branson, MO.
Foxy and Paul often labored in their garden. Most years would find them planting far more than they needed.
Foxy and Paul enjoyed eating out with the family, especially on Saturday nights at the Airport Drive-In in Madison. This was a frequent event that included Watson and Connie, Reid and Winnie, John and Penny, and Boyd. Other family and friends often joined.
Foxy was a hard worker. She attended Sandy Ridge School and she knew the discipline of hard work from her days growing up on a farm. She was employed at Washington Mills and then Tultex for numerous years. She and Paul ran the Sunoco Gas Station on HWY 704 below Mt. Hermon Church for 3 years. When Reid and Winnie farmed, she and Paul would head up after their day’s work and volunteer their time to help prime, string and get the tobacco in the barn.
David Thompson, her great nephew said: “She held the title for the best fried apple pies ever made and could run a push mower to the moon and back any day of the week. They just don’t make them like that anymore.”
Foxy loved books and she loved to read. Among her favorite writers were Grace Livingston Hill, Janette Oke and Helen Steiner Rice. She read her Bible and did her daily devotions, often using the Upper Room.
She loved her church. She joined Delta Church in April, 1949. She was the 2nd oldest member. She definitely took her church vows seriously. She gave generously, attended when the church doors were open as long as she was able, and shared her talents with the church. She was involved in the United Methodist Women, attended Sunday School, served on various committees, and served as church treasurer for years. She and Paul attended summer trips to camp with the youth and they were part of a cleanup crew to Tarboro after the flooding from Hurricane Floyd.
Wherever Boyd served a church, Reidsville or Stoneville, Foxy and Paul were faithful to attend revival services or special gospel singings.
She loved her family. She dearly loved Paul and Rodney. She was a good wife, good mother, good sister, good aunt, good friend, good neighbor, and a good woman. She was partial caregiver to her mother for years, and caregiver to her sister Ruth. As long as Foxy’s brother Ewell and his wife Estelle were living, Foxy and Paul took care of their yard. She was a second “mother” to Katie, Boyd, and Penny. She and Paul even tended to Bailey when she was a little girl.
Gatherings of the Gunter Family were special events in Foxy’s life: fishing at Exie’s fish pond on Easter Monday, cook-outs at the Delta Picnic Shelter, family birthday suppers, and pot-luck meals at Christmas.
Foxy accompanied Paul to his numerous doctors’ appointments. All those trips Paul made to receive dialysis, Foxy went along. They were certainly a pair. They mowed the yard together. They shopped for groceries together. They cut wood together. Foxy never got a driver’s license. Therefore, Foxy and Paul went everywhere together. Where you saw Foxy, you saw Paul.
As advanced age began to take its toil, Foxy chose to move to North Pointe. She did not want to be a burden to Rodney. Her declining heath eventually necessitated a move to Jacob’s Creek. The last few weeks have been difficult, especially the past few days. She always welcomed a visitor and thanked each one for their visits. She will be greatly missed. But, she is now at peace. She called for Paul and her mother in the last days. Now she is reunited with those she loved most. Because she received JESUS CHRIST as her Lord and Savior, those of us who believe in CHRIST, and have received Him as our Savior, we shall all be reunited. We thank GOD for sharing Foxy with us all these years! To HIM be the glory!
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Delta Methodist Church, 5984 NC Hwy E. 704, Sandy Ridge, N.C. 27046.
Colonial Funeral Home Stokes Chapel in Sandy Ridge is serving the family.
Condolences may be offered at www.colonialfh.net
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