Beulah Prigmore

Beulah Bessie "Boots" Burgess Prigmore

Boots Prigmore, age 85, passed away at her home in Trussville, Alabama on Monday, August 3, 2009. After several years of living with Parkinson's disease, Boots is now free of pain and discomfort and is resting in the arms of her Lord and Savior in Heaven.

Boots was born on June 5, 1924 in Coalfield, Tennessee, the daughter of Sib Elbert and Ethel Lane Burgess. She had fourteen brothers and sisters. In the first grade, she "picked out" Edwin Shelton Prigmore as the young man she wanted as her sweetheart. The two fell in love as teenagers and were married on March 2, 1943 and were happily married for sixty-six years. Their devotion to one another and their dedication to their family was an inspiration to all who knew them. Boots and Shelton raised five children in Loudon, Tennessee and in Alabama where they moved in 1965. Boots was a homemaker for most of her life. After her youngest child was in junior high school, she worked several years as a receptionist for Dr. Robert Lumpkin, a dentist in Irondale, Alabama. She was a volunteer for many programs throughout her life, setting an example of the importance of service to others. She visited patients for many years at the Trussville Nursing Home, taught 5-year old Sunday School at the First Baptist Church of Trussville for twenty-five years, and taught an adult Sunday School class while a member of the First Baptist Church of Loudon. She was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Trussville and faithfully attended church until her health declined. She loved the Lord with all her heart, and she followed His teachings as a Christian wife and mother. Boots desired above all else that her family believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and to attend church. Boots was happiest when she was outside working in her flowerbeds, lovingly tending her flowers, shrubs, and trees as she created a beautiful yard that was enjoyed by her family and neighbors. She also enjoyed hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains, having picnics with her family, reading, and spending time with her many grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. She crocheted, quilted, and sewed many items that will be treasured by her loved ones. She delighted in assisting her husband in creating wooden children's toys that they sold at juried art shows throughout the southeast for many years. Boots was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters Ida Smith, Julia Ann Peters, Jewell Schrader, Hazel Gough, Marie Smith, and infant Josie; her brothers Jimmy, Vincent, and infants J.C. and J.D. Burgess, all of Tennessee; and her daughter-in-law, Joyce Steele Prigmore. Boots is survived by her loving husband, Edwin Shelton Prigmore of Trussville, Alabama, her daughters Linda Marie Prigmore (Larry) Layfield of Pinson, Alabama, Cynthia "Cindy" Anne Prigmore (Chris) Marlowe of Shreveport. Louisiana, and Susan Elaine Prigmore (Jan) Kizziah of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and her sons Edwin Shelton (Brenda) Prigmore III of Chattanooga, Tennessee and Philip Brian (Sharon) Prigmore of Huber Heights, Ohio. Boots is also survived by her grandchildren Teddy Layfield, Dianna Layfield (Billy) Kennedy, Steven (Michelle) Layfield of Pinson, Jennifer Long (Chris) Cowan and Kathryn Long (Ryan) Pierce of Shreveport, Louisiana, Gina Perna (Brandon) Sevedge of Northport, Alabama, Mark (Melissa) Prigmore of Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Karen Prigmore Buchanan of Tallapoosa, Georgia, Thomas (Rhonda) Prigmore and Michael Prigmore both of Dalton, Georgia, Julie Prigmore (Tim) O'Connor of Moody, Jason (Holle) Prigmore of Tallapoosa, Georgia, Nicholas Prigmore of Dayton, Ohio, Dr. Samuel "Cam" (Carla) Perna III of Birmingham, and Melinda Perna (Jeff) Braswell of Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Additional surviving family members include sixteen great-grandchildren; her sister Melva Jean (Tommy) Roberts; and her brothers Sib (Gloria) Burgess, Malcolm (Shelby) Burgess of Tennessee and Mitchell "Mickey" (Rosemarie) Burgess of San Antonio, Texas; and her sister-in-law, Imogene Burgess of Tennessee. Also left to cherish her memory are Wayne Schrader of Tennessee, Rodger Long of Florida, and her very special friends Raydean Witt Clevenger and Jeretta Black of Tennessee, Jeanne Crowe and Alice Holmes of Trussville, and her "other" daughter, Rhonda Holcombe Taylor of Clay. Boots is survived by beloved nieces and nephews too numerous to name individually. She loved all her family members and would want them to know how much she cherished them. Special thanks to the following physicians that have provided care for Boots throughout her illness: Dr. Robert Chadband, Dr. Harold Settle, and Dr. Richard Diethelm. The family wishes to express its sincerest appreciation to the staff of Comfort Care Hospice, especially Brenda, Jessica, and Wendie, for their tender care and for being God's angels among us during this time. Services will be held Wednesday, August 5, 2009 at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home in Trussville, Alabama located at 1591 Gadsden Highway, Birmingham, Alabama. Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. with services to follow at 12:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Trussville City Cemetery. Reverend Gene Ennis will be officiating. Pallbearers will be her grandsons Teddy Layfield, Steven Layfield, Jason Prigmore, Dr. Sam Perna III, Tim O'Connor, and Brandon Sevedge. Memorials may be made to the Alabama Baptist Children's Homes.