Thea B. Dean

            Thea Burges Dean, 85, of Fredericksburg, VA died Wednesday, August 2, 2017 at her daughter’s home in Fredericksburg.

            Thea was born April 22, 1932 in Rocky Mount, N.C. to the late James and Erie Burges. She was preceded in death by her husband, Baxter G. Dean in 2010.

            Thea graduated from West Edgecombe High School in Rocky Mount in 1950, and Meredith College in Raleigh in 1954. She was a social worker for the N.C. Department of Social Services for many years. Thea and Baxter moved back to Wilson, N.C. in 1979 where they remained until her health declined. In 2006, they moved to Fredericksburg to live with their daughter Kaye and her family.

            Thea is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Kaye and Ray Pegelow of Fredericksburg and April and John King of New Bern, N.C.; sister Emily Burrows of Warrenton, N.C.; grandchildren Allison Pegelow, Phillip Pegelow and wife Kristen, Ashley King, and Jay King. Thea was also loved by her many nieces and nephews, Nancy, Claude, Laura, Burges, Allan, Jed, and Edde. 

            The family would especially like to thank Sheilla Ackuayi for over 12 years of devoted care and for the constant companionship and love she and her family offered Thea every day, as well as Lincoln Saludez and his family for their unwavering kindness and warm-hearted care, and her many friends from Home & Heart Health who were always there for her.

            Thea, affectionately known as “Aunt T and Mama Dean”, was loved by all. She was fiercely independent, a talented seamstress, an avid reader, and a loyal NCSU Wolfpack fan. Her greatest joy was spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren, and could always be counted on to have everyone’s favorite treats freshly baked and ready for them.

            She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

            A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, August 5 at Strickland Funeral Home in Louisburg, N.C. Interment will be private.

            In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the charity of one’s choice.

            Arrangements are by Strickland Funeral Home & Crematory, Louisburg, www.stricklandfuneralhome.net.

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