Leona Marie Slaughter Aldridge, 70, of Stoneville, NC passed away peacefully on Friday, January 3, 2025, in her home.
Marie was born on October 17, 1954, in Henry County, VA to the late Arthur Leroy (Sonny) Slaughter and Edith Mae Walker Slaughter. Marie was raised in Ridgeway, VA. She attended Drewry Mason High School. Marie married Robert Aldridge on September 1, 1972. She worked for American Furniture in Martinsville, VA and in concession at the Martinsville Speedway on race weekends with her family. Her greatest accomplishment in life was giving birth to her one and only son, Doug. Marie loved children and loved spoiling them.
For many years Marie worked at Stoneville Furniture Company until they closed. She then proceeded to care for people in their homes who needed a little extra help and she took care of nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews as the years passed. Another great joy of hers was to become Nana to her one and only grandson, Nick. Marie’s love for her family and her church were evident in her selfless giving. She spent many hours with her church family and had the best of times with two friends she mentioned often, Regina Calvert and Linda Priddy. She talked about the things they would do together and visit shut-ins during the holidays. It was a joy for her to give to others. She loved to talk on the phone with family and friends and that was her outreach to everyone. Marie’s health began to go down a couple years ago and she mentioned recently at a holiday event that she wasn’t going to be here long, that she wasn’t healthy or getting better. The Lord knew when he called her home on Friday that she was ready. She slipped away peacefully in her sleep.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her grandparents, Thomas and Ethel Walker and J.W. and Ida Bell Slaughter.
She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Robert J. Aldridge; her son, Doug Aldridge (Amanda); her grandson, Nick Aldridge; brother, Tommy Slaughter (Wanda); sisters Alice S. Turner (Jensie) and Anita S. Williams (Robert); brothers-in-law, Sammy Aldridge (Dale) and Michael Shaffer (Dawn); sisters-in-law, Ramona S. Martin (Bruce) and Mary A. Alsphaugh; numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Stoneville Fire Department, P.O. Box 71, Stoneville, NC 27048.
The family would like to thank everyone who has brought food and shown kindness and most of all for your prayers during our loss of Marie. She will be missed.
Thank you to the Stoneville Fire Department and Stoneville Police Department and to Ray Funeral Home for your service during this time.
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