Verna Pamela Nettles Dillman, 76, affectionately known as “Pam,” passed away Thursday, June 20, 2024 at Richmond County Hospice Haven, surrounded by her loving family.
Left to cherish her memories are her devoted husband, Paul Kenneth Dillman Jr., of the home; daughter, Pamela Katherine “Kitt” Goodwin (Bruce) of Wadesboro; sons, Paul Kenneth “Ken” Dillman III, (JoAnne) of Hampton, Virginia, and Jeffery Nettles Dillman (Patricia) of Camden, South Carolina; grandchildren, Logan Hunter Goodwin, Lauren Danielle Dillman, Kiera Kendall Dillman, William Cole Dillman and Olivia Janae Dillman; and brothers, Jack Thomason (Sandy) of Salado, Texas, and Veep Nettles (Debby) of Hamlet.
Pam was born March 4, 1948, in Pinehurst. She is the daughter of the late V.P. “Pop” Nettles and Mildred Hartgrove Nettles.
She was a proud member of Hamlet High School, Class of 1966. Pam attended Louisburg College, Richmond Community College, and then transferred to UNC-Pembroke. In 1968, she went to work with Laurel Crest Carpets in Laurel Hill and the following year, married Paul Kenneth Dillman Jr. Pam grew up in Hamlet, and also lived in Rockingham, Georgetown, South Carolina, Smithfield and Clayton, however her love of Hamlet brought her back to the lakehouse in Hamlet where she resided at the time of her passing.
Being a faithful member of First Methodist Church, Rockingham, and being raised at First Methodist Church, Hamlet, Pam was an active member in many capacities. Some of those included: chair of the Parsonage Committee, secretary of the Board of Trustees, and member of the Session. One of her most memorable moments was working with other church members to collect letters of love and support from the church family and then driving the letters to the Emanuel African Episcopal Church of Charleston, South Carolina. Pam truly loved her church and church family.
Pam had an illustrious business career in many ventures. She was an insurance agent working with Pegram Insurance, Mr. Dan Gore, and FirstHealth. Her insurance career then inspired her love of selling and managing mobile home sales in Hamlet, Laurel Hill, and Smithfield. The love of working with people turned into a new venture of flipping houses and rental properties for more than 20 years. In her earlier years and again in her latter years, Pam worked with WLWL radio station. She and her husband, Paul, also made unfinished wood furniture for some years and owned the House of Wood Country Store.
Pam was an active member of Richmond County and surrounding areas, and passionately involved in both political and community endeavors. She was tenacious and would rally for what she truly believed to be right, just, and ethical. In Richmond County, she was the first elected female County Commissioner, serving from 2006-2010, and was the recipient of the Citizen of the Year Award more than once.
Pam was a voice of reason and instrumental in numerous environmental protective causes. Some of her most notable efforts were keeping the nuclear dump out of Richmond County, along with her campaign against ITD and their efforts of bringing the burning of creosote railroad ties to Hamlet.
Pam was president of the Richmond County Democratic Women, involved in the Richmond County Business and Professional Women’s Organization, as part of the Richmond County Planning Board, was appointed to the East Rockingham Committee, member of the Newcomers Club in 1980, member of the Rockingham Junior Women’s Club, organizer of the local Crop Walk in 2002, she was a Hamlet Rotarian, organized the Hamlet Ghost Walk in 2007 and 2022, co-chair of the Richmond Senior High School Task Force on Violence and Drugs, served on the Lumber River Council of Governments Transportation Advisory Committee, also served on the National Association of Counties, vice-chair of NACo’s Transportation Steering Committee’s Airports Subcommittee (2010-2011) and president of Women of National Association of Counties Leadership Network (2010-2011).
Admirable, vivacious, outspoken, yet a lady, Pam believed in the community of Richmond County. She was more than just involved, she committed everything within her to support the citizens of Richmond County.
Pam was preceded in death by her parents, V.P. and Mildred Nettles.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on Thursday, June 27, 2024, beginning at 3:30 p.m. at First Methodist Church, Rockingham, with the Rev. Darrel Bowles and the Rev. Jim Ritter officiating.
The family will receive friends following the service in the church fellowship hall, where the celebration will continue as a catered meal will be prepared per Pam’s request.
Memorials may be made to: First United Methodist Church: At-Risk Youth Advocacy Fund, P.O. Box 637, Rockingham, NC 28380; or Richmond County Hospice, 1119 N. U.S. Hwy 1, Rockingham, NC 28379.
Harrington Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to serve the Dillman family.
Online condolences may be made at harringtonfuneralhome.com.
