Tilda Jane Nelson Duggins

DUGGINS WALNUT COVE Tilda Nelson Duggins, 94, went home to be with her Lord early Wednesday morning, July 19, 2023, at Woltz Hospice Home. Tilda was born in Pilot Mountain on July 12, 1929, to the late Roy Lesper and Hulda Simmons Nelson. She won the first “Prettiest Girl Cake”, when she was 11 and the second when she was 14. She was the “Halloween Carnival Queen” when she was 17 by a 1 cent vote and was “Miss Pilot Mountain”. Tilda was a honor graduate from Pilot Mountain High School, Class of 1948, where she was a member of the student government, school newspaper staff, and voted the prettiest girl in the class of 1948, whom she still loved and always said that they were like family. Tilda had many fond memories of her school days. She was retired from the Stokes Carolina Egg Company where she won a cash reward for having the most “Grade A” eggs. She was also a tobacco farmer and retired from the Stokes County School System, working in food service at South Stokes High School for 17 years. She loved the students, faculty, and her coworkers. Tilda was a member of Palmyra Methodist Church, where she was a member and officer of the “Golden Girls and Boys” as long as her health permitted. She loved her church dearly. Tilda was known for her chicken and dumplings and German chocolate pies in Stokes and Surry County. She was also known for her beautiful flowers in her yard. She said often, she felt closer to God when she was working in her flower gardens. Tilda also liked to brighten someone’s day by sending them cards to remind them how special they were. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Grady Derwood Duggins; 2 grandsons, Clayton Cole Marks and Anthony Salagado; son in law, Charles Sink; brothers, Jerry Nelson Wayne Nelson, Raymond Nelson, Johnny Boyd Nelson, and PR Nelson; and her sister, Mary Irene Slawter. Tilda is survived by her 3 sons, Michael Duggins (Teresa), JL Duggins, and Randy Duggins (Debbie); 2 daughters, Wanda Sink and Tammy Anderson (Richard); 11 grandchildren, Christopher Duggins, Anthony Duggins, Samuel Anderson, Austin White, Jennifer Buffkin, Jinger Salagado, Erica Douglas, Tanya Bryan, and Savannah Parrish, and Sierra Anderson; a grandson “in heart”, Rodney Stephens; 19 great grandchildren; 2 great great grandchildren; 2 sister in laws, Delano Cresson and Rosyln Nelson; and several nieces and nephews. There will be an 11:00 am funeral service held on Friday, July 21, 2023, at Palmyra Methodist Church with Pastor Kevin Jasper, Mr. John Booth, Mr. Anthony Duggins, and Mrs. Tammy Anderson officiating. Burial will follow in the Church cemetery. The family will receive friends on Friday, July 21, 2023, from 10-11 am at Palmyra Methodist Church. Memorials may be made to Palmyra Methodist Church Cemetery Fund: 5076 NC HWY 8 S Germanton, NC 27019 or to Boy Scout Troop 408 in C/o Mike Duggins, 1171 John Hill Road, Walnut Cove, NC 27052. Online condolences may be made at www.burroughsfuneralhome.com. Burroughs Funeral Home, Walnut Cove is honored to be serving the Duggins family.

Tilda Jane Nelson Duggins

July 12, 1929 - July 19, 2023