Exie Lee Gurganous Padgett, 96, of Penderlea, and who was born November 17, 1916, passed from this life to her eternal home in Heaven on Saturday, November 9, 2013 at the Brian Center of Wallace.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Joseph Melvin Padgett; her parents, John Allen and Marenda Alice Brown Gurganous and siblings, Ernest Gurganous, Lizzie Rivenbark, Ella Padgett, Gussie Carter and Turnie Gurganous.

She is survived by her children; Lucille Giddeons (Solon), Mitchell Padgett (Juanita) J.A. Padgett (Melinda), all of Willard and Joann Marshburn (Bill) of Maple Hill, Melvin Padgett (Donna) of Beulaville, Joyce Ward (Bobby) of Willard, Frances Brown (Clifton) of Wallace, Rebecca Fowler (Jim) of Atkinson, Deborah Walker of Wallace and David Padgett (Susan) of Surf City; 19 grandchildren and numerous great and great-great grandchildren.

Exie was a loving, caring mother to her 10 children and to all of her grandchildren. She taught her family many valuable lessons in honesty, love and sharing with others that are still evident in her family today. She was a lifelong member of Penderlea Assembly of God where she served numerous years as a Junior Sunday School class teacher as well as the leader of the Adult Sunday School class. As a devoted member of her church, she achieved a 43 year perfect Sunday School attendance and was pleased to show everyone who was interested her impressive awards pin.

Exie loved working in her vegetable garden and often shared the bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables with family, neighbors and friends. She delighted in the flowers in her yard that brought much pleasure to the eyes of all who passed by her house. With her beautiful flowers, she often made bouquets to share on many Sundays at her church. Her visits and her flowers also gave much cheer to friends and neighbors when she would deliver a vase of beauty to them. She served her community for many years as a reliable and caring babysitter for a number of the working mothers in the area. Exie left a legacy that will last for many years to come. "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

Funeral service will be held at 2:00pm on Tuesday, November 12, 2013 at Quinn-McGowen Funeral Home Wallace Chapel with the Rev. Tom Dorman officiating. Burial will follow in Potts Memorial Presbyterian Church Cemetery with her grandsons serving as casketbearers.

The family will receive friends from 6:00pm to 8:00pm on Monday evening at the funeral home and other times at the home of Mitchell and Juanita Padgett.

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Funeral service will be held at 2:00pm on Tuesday, November 12, 2013 at Quinn-McGowen Funeral Home Wallace Chapel with the Rev. Tom Dorman officiating. Burial will follow in Potts Memorial Presbyterian Church Cemetery with her grandsons serving as casketbearers.

The family will receive friends from 6:00pm to 8:00pm on Monday evening at the funeral home and other times at the home of Mitchell and Juanita Padgett.