George Robert Pettigrew was born on the Pettigrew Farm in the Union Community south of Plantersville on October 25, 1926, the son of the late Ernest Porter Pettigrew and Virginia Claude Edwards Pettigrew, pioneer families in that community. George, after a long, fruitful life of 96 years, departed this life from Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo on Tuesday, April 11, 2023. A quiet, reserved but strong man of faith and family, George spent his early years farming in the Union Community on the Pettigrew family farm. He married Emogene Scruggs Pettigrew on February 11, 1949 a marriage of 63 years until her death on December 26, 2012. A patriotic American, Cpl. Pettigrew served his country in the U. S. Marine Corps during the Korean Conflict. George worked in manufacturing facilities including Penn Tire, Richey’s Toy Factory and Tupelo Manufacturing before retiring after 20 years at FMC Corporation as a warehouseman. George was the oldest living member of Priceville Baptist Church at his death. He loved the outdoors and gardening, wood working, raising quail and spent many years cooking with the Tupelo Luncheon Civitan Club.
A service celebrating his life will be held at 3 PM Saturday, April 15th, 2023 from the Sadie Holland Memorial Chapel at Holland Funeral Directors-Tupelo with Bro. Chris Carter officiating. Private burial will be in Lee Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 1 PM-service time on Saturday only. For those unable to attend, the service may be viewed at www.hollandfuneraldirectors.com/Livestreaming.
George is survived by his only daughter and caregiver, Vicky Pettigrew Crocker and her husband, Jerry of Tupelo; his only granddaughter, Nicole Crocker Hightower, Buddy Roe as he knew her, and her husband, Dwayne of Tupelo; two great grandchildren, John Curtis Hightower and Luke Connor Hightower. 1 brother in law, Howard Conaway of Toomsuba, Ms. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Emogene, a brother Ernest.
Pallbearers will be Mike Pettigrew, Wayne Ray , Nephews Earnest Paul Pettigrew, Mitchell Scruggs, Tommy Scruggs, David Earl Mears. Honorary pallbearers will be his great grandsons John Curtis Hightower and Luke Connor Hightower.
Memorials may be made to Sanctuary Hospice House, P. O. Box 2177, Tupelo, MS 38803 or to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Way, Memphis, TN 38105.
