Pearl Virginia Sawyer Pritchard, 93, of 2911 West Main Street Extended, Elizabeth City, peacefully departed this life surrounded by her family on Saturday, July 7, 2018.

Mrs. Pritchard was born on June 20, 1925 to Norris Baum Sawyer and Selma Harrison Sawyer in Powells Point. After high school, she attended East Carolina University (then ECTC) for two years. She worked in Norfolk briefly before marrying the love of her life, W. Gardner Pritchard. They made their home in Pasquotank County where they would begin their life-long journey together and raise a family. Mrs. Pritchard was active in her community and the lives of her two sons as PTA President at Central High School and as a member of Berea Baptist Church. She and her husband, Gardner, worked with Boy Scout projects and she bowled in a community league. She was a great cook and loved her family.

Mrs. Pritchard is survived by her two devoted and loving sons, Phillip Gardner Pritchard of Elizabeth City and David Norris Pritchard of Kitty Hawk; her husband’s special cousin, Virginia Anderson Poulos and her family; a special niece, Jane Gallop Newbern (John) and their children, John Norris Newbern of Chesapeake and Dr. Krystal Newbern of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida; as well as a host of Pearl’s nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Erlene Gallop (Ernest), Hilda Evans (Florian) and a brother, Milburn E. Sawyer (Maxine).

Mrs. Pritchard was a hard worker, helping her husband and sons, David and Phil, begin Central Garden Center and Nursery in Elizabeth City and later added a location in Kitty Hawk. Her love of the beach began with ownership of their cottages in the 1950s. Working on them through the years with her family was a labor of love. Being in the sun on the beach or on the cottage deck was her “happy place.” Through the years so many family members and friends have spent good times with her there and these memories will be treasured and fondly recalled. She, especially in later years, was referred to as “Miss Pearl” and was known for her hard work and having lots of energy. Pair this with a determined nature and “Miss Pearl” was a force with which to be reckoned. She kept up her pace of taking care of family and projects as long as she could. As a wife, mother, sister, aunt and friend to many she definitely lived her life “in full bloom”. She will be sorely missed.

The family wishes to express their sincere appreciation for the loving attention and care for Mrs. Pritchard over the past several years provided by Robbin Graham, L’Tanya Snowden and Kim Gregory.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 10, 2018 at Twiford Memorial Chapel with the Rev. F. Joe Griffith and the Rev. Jason Wise officiating. The family will receive friends on Monday evening from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the funeral home and following the service in the lobby of the funeral home. Burial will follow in West Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery. While flowers are welcomed by the family, any who wish to honor her with a memorial donation may send it to the Alzheimer’s Association Eastern NC Chapter, 3739 National Drive, Suite 110, Raleigh 27612 or by phone at 800-272-3900, or to Berea Baptist Church, 2033 North Road Street, Elizabeth City, 27909. Twiford Funeral Home, 405 E. Church Street, Elizabeth City, NC is assisting the Pritchard family. Online memorial condolences may be sent to the family at www.TwifordFH.com.