Pinetops -

Ann Pate McCullough, loving wife, mother and grandmother, died peacefully in her daughter's home in Pinetops, North Carolina on January 17th. She was 85 years old.

Ann was born in Richmond, Virginia to Frederick Preston and Stella Dean Pate. After graduating from high school, she was working and living in the city, when a Marine called to talk to her roommate. Ann told him her roommate was not home. "Well," he said, "I'll just talk to you." Ann responded with a firm rebuke and hung up. The abashed Marine called back a few minutes later and apologized with all the gusto he could muster. His name was Larry McCullough. He and Ann were married in Richmond a few years later. The marriage lasted 61 years until his death in 2020, also at the age of 85.

Ann worked as a teacher's aide in the early childhood development program in Mocksville, North Carolina and drove a school bus for many years. When they retired, Ann and Larry moved to Columbia, North Carolina and a little cottage on Bulls Bay.

She is survived by her daughter, Stella Green (Danny) of Pinetops, and her sons, Chris (Lynn Glasgow) and Lonnie (Sheila Driscoll) of Yardley, Pennsylvania. She was adored and respected by her ten grandchildren who include Mac, Thomas and Sam Jackson; Spencer, Georgia and Grace McCullough; and Willem, Margaret, John and Patrick McCullough. All were fortunate enough to spend time with her in the past year.

A celebration of life ceremony will be held in Yardley in the spring. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Tyrell County Library would be appreciated.