Willa Faye Pendergrass

Mrs. Willa Faye Hooper Pendergrass 82 of Nantahala passed away Monday, December 15, 2025, Willa Faye was born June 28, 1943, in Graham, North Carolina, to the late Hester Gibson Hooper and Fred Hooper.

Mrs. Pendergrass was a member of Aquone Baptist Church, and she loved the Nantahala community. She also adored birds, particularly hummingbirds and cardinals. Mrs. Pendergrass was a loving sister, wife, mother, and grandmother and she loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also enjoyed bingo as well as cooking and baking, and she was known for her dumplings, strawberry pie, meatloaf, fried chicken and chocolate cake. Mrs. Pendergrass raised gardens from which she canned her own food.

In addition to her parents, Willa Faye Pendergrass was preceded in death by her husband Earl Pendergrass, in 2015; her sisters, Roma Nell Mashburn, Margie Gibson, Olen Sanders, Irene Carter, and Ruth Hooper; three brothers, Lloyd Hooper, JR Hooper, and Laudy Hooper; and her daughter-in-law, Lottie Pendergrass.

Mrs. Willa is survived by her four children, Wayne Pendergrass, James Douglas "Doug" Pendergrass, Marie Lynn Pendergrass, and Teresa Jones; nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held 2:00 PM Saturday, December 20th at Aquone Baptist Church in Nantahala, NC with the Rev. Tanner McGregor officiating. The family will receive friends from 1:00 -2:00 PM prior to the service at the church. Burial will follow the service at Aquone Baptist Church Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Daniel Pendergrass, Matthew Pendergrass, Giovann Huayamave, Alvin Mashburn, Isaac Gibson, and Tanner Gerber.

Online condolences can be left at bryantgrantfuneralhome.com

Bryant-Grant Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to serve the Pendergrass family.