Virginia Melissa Corbitt Pearce

Virginia Melissa Corbitt Pearce, 96, passed away Friday, March 3, 2023 at her Shalimar residence, with her family by her side.

Ginny was born in Holmes County on September 28, 1926 to her loving parents, Edgar and Julia Corbitt. She graduated as Valedictorian at Poplar Springs High School, Class of 1943. There were 9 students in her class.

Ginny married James Roy Pearce Jr., September 23, 1964 in Manhattan, New York. She was a very hard worker and wanted to be first and the best, she was 17 years old and had a very unique distinction at Wainright Shipyard, Panama City, she was one of only 2 women operators of a “union melt machine”, a machine for electric welding, she was a first class operator, her footage was sometimes more than men operators. She was really a “Rosie the Riveter.” She was a retired secretary for civil service at Eglin AFB.

She loved to cook, wow, could she cook. She loved to sew and made my cousin Deborah’s wedding dress, so beautiful. Every bead was sewn by hand with love. She and Papa traveled in her younger days and was in every state but California.

Ginny was Baptist by faith, in fact her grandfather, Rev. McIntosh, “a traveling preacher,” helped build Bethel Baptist Church.

Papa used to tell her “you are my everything” and that is so true. She was everything to everybody and will be sorely missed.

Ginny is survived by her daughter, Connie Kilpatrick(Sam); granddaughter, Clarissa Powell(Michael); grandson, Wade Kilpatrick(Amy); nephew, Josh Corbitt(Melody); great grandchildren, MacKenzie and Shannon Kilpatrick. She is also survived by numerous nieces and cousins, friends and well loved neighbors, Rusty and Suzanne Weenick, Jason Weenick and Bo and Barbara Slocumb.

She is preceded in death by her loving husband, James; parents; siblings, Velma Corbitt, McRay Corbitt, baby girl who passed at birth, Rubye Magaline Corbitt; five brothers, Royce Corbitt, Billy Sunday Corbitt, Bobby Lamar Corbitt, Jimmy Edgar Corbitt and Douglas MacArthur Corbitt.

Visitation Services will be held at Davis Watkins Funeral Home, 113 NE Racetrack Road, Ft. Walton Beach, Fl 32547 on March 9, 2023 beginning at 1:00 p.m. Funeral Services will follow the visitation at 2:00 p.m. Pastor Buddy Duncan will officiate the service. Gravesides services will take place at Beal Memorial Cemetery where she will be laid to rest next to her husband. Pallbearers are Joshua Corbitt, Michael Powell, Leon Stanfill and Jason Weenick, James Corbitt and Kenny Corbitt.

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to her faithful caregivers, Margie, Pat, Ruby, Bea, Celeste, Melina and Addrow.

Donations may be made to Shriners Children’s Hospital, Gentiva Hospice of Okaloosa or St. Jude Hospital.

Mother(Grams, Mrs. P) had a wonderful fulfilling life, can you imagine all the history she saw and lived. She was the matriarch of our family, she showed her love with great meals, family gatherings, which included lots of friends. We will miss her so much.

Please visit www.daviswatkins.com to sign the guestbook, express condolences and share memories.