Victoria Lafferty Willingham passed into heaven on the morning of April 19th in her home surrounded by loved ones. Victoria, lovingly called Vicki, was born June 13, 1938, in Floyd County Kentucky. Vicki was immensely proud of her Irish and eastern Kentucky roots. She would gladly tell stories about her happy childhood as a coal miner’s daughter. Her four sisters and brother remained life long friends.
After graduating from Wheelwright High School in 1956 Vicki attended David Lipscomb University. There she met the love of her life, Bryant Willingham, and moved to Tuscumbia, AL. Vicki and Bryant were married 69 years. During those years Vicki became a mother to Connie Deneice and Keda Melinda. Vicki also became a real estate broker and owned her own business, Willingham Realty. She was extremely involved in the community dedicating herself to her church and various other charities, including becoming the first female president of the Civitan Club in the state of Alabama.
Vicki loved to travel and was an avid collector of thimbles and coins. Vicki had a beautiful way of complimenting, voicing something she found special about someone, a gift she freely gave to all she met. But most of all Vicki adored her family, granddaughters, Emmie, Elizabeth, and Grace Victoria; and her great-grandchildren, Ben, Alex, Charlee and Max Bryant. She also adored her handsome son-in-law, Greg and handsome grandsons-in-law, Sam and Will.
She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Delphia Lafferty; sisters, Gay Osborn and Billie Lee; brothers-in-law, Jim Osborn, Morris Turner, and Dewey Willingham; and mother-in-law and father-in-law, Meredith and Blanche Willingham.
Vicki is survived by husband, Bryant Willingham; daughters, Connie Hildreth (Greg) and Keda Stockton; granddaughters, Emmie Sherertz (Sam), Elizabeth Akins (Will), and Grace Stockton; great grandchildren, Ben and Alex Sherertz, and Charlee and Max Akins; sisters, Gail Turner and Carolyn Hall (Sam); brother, Martin Lafferty (Gwen); brother-in-law, Lee Willingham (Bea); and sisters-in-law, Mary Jane Willingham and Kay Burton (Philip).
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 22, from 5:00 – 7:00pm at Morrison Funeral Home, Tuscumbia. The funeral service will be held on Thursday, April 23, in the funeral home chapel beginning at 1:00 pm. A graveside service will follow at Guy Cemetery.
Pallbearers are Samuel Sherertz, Will Akins, Ben Sherertz, Alex Sherertz, Max Akins, John Burton, Mike Barker, and Keith Hatfield.
The family wishes to thank Kaitlyn Peters and the staff at Gentiva Hospice.
Vicki will be remembered for her soft kindness, fierce devotion to family and as a beloved matriarch.
