Ethel Marie Pettigrew

Ethel Marie Pettigrew was born on February 12, 1944 in Wilson City, Missouri to Thomas Pettigrew and Jettie Mae Archie Pettigrew-Napier.

Ethel accepted God as her Savior early in life and was a member of Holly Grove Missionary Baptist Church under pastor Reverend T. R. Tyus and found her final church home at Ollie Grove Missionary Baptist Church under Reverend Samuel Gibson.  Her love of music and her passion for feeding people showed in her service in church, as she sang in the choir and was often primary help in the kitchen when needed.

Having only gotten a limited education from Washington Elementary and Middle School in Wyatt, MO in the 1950s, Ethel believed faithful service and her love of the Lord gave her the strength and ingenuity to inspire her posterity to educational pursuits she had not known.  Ethel retired in 2007, after having worked at Barnhill’s Restaurant during the 1970s and years later at DAEOC Head Start and the Charleston Nutrition Center.  She took great pride in her children and grandchildren and they each had their own special adoration and love of her charming beauty, inside and out.  She received those “flowers” she instilled her posterity to believe should be given while she was still present in body.  One of her children used to call her a spoilt rotten old lady…behind her back of course!

Ethel loved to go on riding excursions and did not mind if a local casino was happened upon.  Humble and soft-spoken, Ethel liked sitting outside hulling pecans under the hollow of her trees and her kindly ways drew the community she so loved there to   fellowship.  She had a way of frying chicken and fish that rivaled some well-known franchises!  Those who happened under the tree were often treated to a piece or two or a bag of already hulled pecans!

Ethel was preceded in death by one daughter, Mildred Pettigrew, one grandson, Diondrey Pettigrew, three granddaughters, Sade Janora Pettigrew, Jessica and Lenora Pettigrew, one sister, Betty Pettigrew-Hill, her mother, Jettie Pettigrew-Napier, father, Thomas Edward Pettigrew and her grandparents who raised her Anna and Allen Archie.

God called Ethel Marie Pettigrew home Monday, January 10, 2022 at the age of 77 years, 10 months, and 29 days.

She leaves to cherish her memories, four sons, David (Samella) Pettigrew of  Charleston , MO, Allen (Elizabeth) Pettigrew of Riverview, FL, Thomas (Katrina) Pettigrew of New Madrid, MO, and Anthony Pettigrew of Springfield, MO , six daughters, Edna Pettigrew of Charleston, MO, Bernice (LaVern) Frazier of Charleston, MO, Evelyn Pettigrew of Northwoods, MO, Betty (Roy) Anderson of Charleston, MO, Jettie (Cody) Brown of Mequon, Wisconsin, and Mecca Pettigrew of Wilson, City, MO, four brothers, Carl (Ella) Pettigrew of Maywood, IL, Thomas "Billie" Pettigrew and Bruce Pettigrew of Lima, OH and Anthony Pettigrew of Irving, TX, four sisters, Eileen Mills, Mona Lawrence, Veronica Daniels and Gwen Thompson of Lima, OH, 32  grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, nephews, nieces, other relatives, and friends.

Friends may call Saturday, January 15, 2022 from 11:00 A.M. until the funeral hour of 12:00 noon at Ollie Grove Missionary Baptist Church with Pastor Samuel Gibson officiating.  Interment will follow in Oak Grove Cemetery with the Williams Funeral Homes of Charleston in charge of arrangements.