DR. CARROLL PRIDGEN

Dr. Carroll Langley Pridgen, 75, passed away peacefully at her home. A devoted mother of 3 and grandmother of 7, she will be remembered perhaps for her significant contributions to research at St. Jude Children's Hospital where she worked for decades. Dr. Pridgen grew up in Atlanta where she attended Northside High School, where she enjoyed modeling and was a gifted swimmer and swam in the Junior Olympics. Graduating from Vanderbilt in only 3 years, she received her undergraduate degree there, and was a member of the Ph Phi Sorority. Dr. Pridgen then attended the University of Tennessee where she received her masters in Microbiology and was a member of Sigma Xi society, then went on to receive her Phd in Virology from the University of Memphis. She also received her Masters in Eduction from The University of Memphis when she decided to also teach science in the Memphis City Schools for a few years. A brilliant and many times published scientist during her tenure at St. Jude, she was instrumental in new theories and methods in virology. She enjoyed the field of science like no other, and even in retirement was still doing research and writing; her contributions will surely be missed. Dr. Pridgen met her husband, Dr. William Pridgen, at Vanderbilt with whom she had three children, Sherryll Oellerich [married to Dr. William Oellerich] of Signal Mountain, TN, Dr. William Pridgen [married to Kelly Summitt Pridgen] of Tuscaloosa, AL, and Allison Varner [married to Michael Varner] of Memphis, TN. An only child, her father, Luther Langley, and mother, Nancy Connell Langley preceded her in death. Her survivors also include her grandchildren, Katherine Pridgen, Jonathan Pridgen, Andrew Oellerich, Matthew Oellerich, Patrick Oellerich, Hunter Varner, and Maxwell Varner, all of whom will miss their grandmother who would write fairly tales of scientific characters for their amusement. Visitation will be Monday at 2:30 at Memorial Park Funeral Home, 5668 Poplar Ave., with a service at 3:30. The family wishes any memorials to be sent to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Memorial Park Funeral Home, "Behind the stone wall", 901-767-8930. Condolences may be offered at www.MemorialParkOnline.com