Patricia Alley Tilley

Our beloved mother and grandmother, Patricia Mae Alley Tilley, 89, passed peacefully to her heavenly home on Sunday, January 25, 2026, at Jacob’s Creek Nursing Home in Madison.

Patricia was born on her family’s tobacco farm in the Bethany Community, of Summerfield, to John Henry “Hence” Alley and Lucy Odessa Tickle, and lived on the family’s farm her entire life. She often talked about being the middle child who helped both her parents farm tobacco, tend their gardens, and care for the chickens and cows. She was also called upon to help her mother cook and take care of her younger siblings during tobacco harvest. Pat, or “Pretty Patsy,” as her Daddy called her, shared many happy stories of growing up on the farm, lots of hard work, and hot summers in the tobacco fields. But Pat also had many happy days playing with her siblings and the neighbors’ kids and climbing and swinging in the cherry trees in her Daddy’s orchard.

Pat was a cheerleader for the basketball team, was one of the “girls” in the senior play, and graduated from Bethany High School in Reidsville in 1954. She enjoyed many years of classes with her sisters and daughter-in-law at Rockingham Community College, including Spanish, aerobics, piano, guitar, and even word processing, with all her sisters taking a class together. Pat worked at Sears, Roebuck & Co. in Greensboro, where she was pleased to be one of the fastest and most accurate data entry operators. Pat participated in the lunchtime skits and musicals, loved to do the “twist,” and retired, after 37 years of service, when the Lawndale Avenue store closed.

Pat’s high school senior picture was captioned, “just like a rocking horse, always in motion,” and she was. Pat’s energy, joy, curiosity, and enthusiasm were evident in everything she did, including gardening, collecting and planting flower seeds every year, and sharing many of her propagated flowers with family and friends. “Grandma Pat” enjoyed many visits, meals, and celebrations with her grandchildren and often took them to church and Vacation Bible School with her. Pat adopted several homeless cats and dogs over the years, including sharing a home with her two closest companions, Harley and Dakota. She also enjoyed painting, crocheting, and most of all, she loved to write songs and sing them. Pat held fast to her faith in God, always praising Him for everything He provided her. She willingly shared and helped others whenever she saw a need. Pat often offered her home as a welcome respite for others and was known to give her last dollar to those who had none. Pat was a faithful member of the Lord’s House of Prayer, where she often sang her own songs and shared her joy of salvation and thankfulness.

Our mother was the life of our family, and she will be dearly missed. Pat is survived by her daughter Kristi (Paul) Marshall; sons Tim (Kathi) Price, Marlon Price (Lynn), and Rocky Ward; brother, Jerry Alley; sister-in-law Audrey Alley; nephew Bobby Alley; and many extended family members. Grandma Pat has eight grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson, with whom we will share our memories of her.

In addition to her parents, Pat was preceded in death by her husband, Lance Tilley; her brothers, Max Alley and Roger Alley; sisters, Sarah Lois Alley, Faye Smith, and Carol Hill; and her granddaughter, Shannon Price. As a remembrance, the family asks that you share a flower with a loved one in Pat’s memory or make a memorial donation to the music program at the Lord’s House of Prayer Baptist Church, 837 Bethany Road, Reidsville, NC.

The family will hold a graveside memorial service at Mount Bethel Christian Church, Summerfield, in March, with Pastor Ricky Garrett officiating. Wilkerson Funeral Home in Reidsville is serving the family, and all are invited to share memories or offer condolences at www.wilkersonfuneral.com