Lois Virginia Slate passed away peacefully at age 94 in Lakeland, Florida, at an assisted living facility near her son and daughter-in-law on Sept. 24, 2025.
Virginia was born on Nov. 11, 1930 in Stokes County. She was predeceased by her parents, Plato Durham Slate and Dixie Lois Hall, as well as her brother James Durham Slate.
She was a graduate of Rockingham High School in Rockingham. One of the highlights of her life was being an extra in the movie "Billy Bathgate" in Hamlet, where she met Dustin Hoffman.
At the age of 16, she began her job at Klopman textile mill in the spinning department before finishing high school; she finished working for over 30 years at Burlington Industries. She lived and worked for most of her life in Cordova, before relocating to live with her son and daughter-in-law in January 2019 in Lakeland, Florida. She traveled extensively with them, including internationally to England, Scotland and Jamaica.
She was a life-long avid country music enthusiast and animal lover. She even named two of her dogs after country music stars: Luke for Luke Bryan and George Strait. Strait was a cockapoo and her forever favorite.
Virginia was a single-parent to her son, Risdon, and she managed, with her mother’s help while she worked, to provide him with a loving home and a solid religious and educational foundation. With her encouragement and support, Risdon received scholarships to earn his Ph.D., and went on to be a tenured criminology professor. Virginia considered this to be her proudest accomplishment.
Virginia personified a strong Christian faith — a constant throughout her life. Active in outreach to her community of Cordova, and her church, she hardly missed a Sunday at Cordova United Methodist Church. God and family have been of primary importance in her life. Virginia Slate has been a living legacy whom many will remember for her perseverance, sense of humor, loving personality, and love of God.
Survived by:
Son: Risdon Nichols Slate (Claudia) Lakeland, Florida.
Grandchildren: Renee Morehouse (John) Alpharetta, Georgia; Jimmy Stein (Tao) Louisville, Colorado; Beth Tooley (Dave) Louisville, Colorado.
Nephews: Jim Slate (Gloria) Pinehurst; Dale Slate (Anne-Marie) Advance; Trent Slate (Danielle) Boone.
Nieces: Nancy Martin (Steve) Jackson Springs; Jennifer Dawson (Darren) Greenville.
Five Great Grandchildren
Service: Celebration of Life - Oct. 4, 2025, 2–4 p.m., Watson King Funeral Home, 306 E. Franklin St., Rockingham.
Phone: 910-895-4011
Pallbearers: Frank Beck; Risdon Byrd; Jim Slate; Trent Slate; Jimmy Stein; Mike Swink
Interment: Burial to immediately follow at Zion United Methodist Church, 123 Zion Rd. Rockingham.
In lieu of flowers, please consider online gifts in memory of Virginia Slate to the Dementia Society of America www.DementiaSociety.org/donate; or The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Online condolences may be made at watson-kingfuneralhome.com Watson-King Funeral Home in Rockingham is serving the Slate family.
