Lois Virginia Slate

Lois Virginia Slate passed away peacefully at age 94 in Lakeland, FL, at an

assisted living facility near her son and daughter-in-law on September 24, 2025.

Virginia was born on November 11, 1930 in Stokes County, NC. She was

predeceased by her parents Plato Durham Slate and Dixie Lois Hall as well as her

brother James Durham Slate. She was a graduate of Rockingham High School in

Rockingham, NC. One of the highlights of her life was being an extra in the movie

Billy Bathgate in Hamlet, NC where she met Dustin Hoffman. At the age of 16,

she began her job at Klopman textile mill in the spinning department before

finishing high school; she finished working for over 30 years at Burlington

Industries. She lived and worked for most of her life in Cordova, NC before

relocating to live with her son and daughter-in-law in January 2019 in Lakeland,

FL. She traveled extensively with them, including internationally to England,

Scotland, and Jamaica. She was a life-long avid country music enthusiast and

animal lover. She even named two of her dogs after country music stars: Luke for

Luke Bryan and George Strait. Strait was a cockapoo and her forever favorite.

Virginia was a single-parent to her son Risdon and she managed, with her mother's

help while she worked, to provide him with a loving home and a solid religious

and educational foundation. With her encouragement and support, Risdon received

scholarships to earn his Ph.D., and went on to be a tenured criminology professor.

Virginia considered this to be her proudest accomplishment. Virginia personified a

strong Christian faith – a constant throughout her life. Active in outreach to her

community of Cordova, and her church, she hardly missed a Sunday at Cordova

United Methodist Church. God and family have been of primary importance in her

life. Virginia Slate has been a living legacy whom many will remember for her

perseverance, sense of humor, loving personality, and love of God.

Survived by:

Son: Risdon Nichols Slate (Claudia) Lakeland, FL.

Grandchildren: Renee Morehouse (John) Alpharetta, GA;

Jimmy Stein (Tao) Louisville, CO; Beth Tooley (Dave) Louisville, CO.

Nephews: Jim Slate (Gloria) Pinehurst, NC; Dale Slate (Anne-Marie) Advance,

NC; Trent Slate (Danielle) Boone, NC.

Nieces: Nancy Martin (Steve) Jackson Springs, NC; Jennifer Dawson (Darren)

Greenville, NC.

Five Great Grandchildren

Service: Celebration of Life

October 4, 2025, 2:00 – 4:00 pm, Watson King Funeral Home

306 E. Franklin St., Rockingham, NC 28380 phone: 910-895-4011

Pallbearers: Frank Beck; Risdon Byrd; Jim Slate; Trent Slate; Jimmy Stein;

Mike Swink

Interment: Burial to immediately follow at Zion United Methodist Church,

123 Zion Rd. Rockingham, NC

In lieu of flowers, please consider online gifts in memory of Virginia Slate to the

Dementia Society of America www.DementiaSociety.org/donate

or

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA)