ROCKY MOUNT – Patsy Marie Wheeler Gurganus, age 93, passed away on Thursday, January 15, 2026. Born in Durham County, NC on September 22, 1932, she was the daughter of the late Garland Gray Wheeler and Hazel Adcock Wheeler. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Joe Gurganus, her brother, Harold Gray Wheeler, and her grandson, Kris Carey.
Patsy was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Rocky Mount, having served as a Sunday School teacher and on the Altar Guild. She loved traveling with her husband, as they achieved their goal of visiting all 50 state capitals.
Patsy is survived by her daughters, Cynthia Gurganus and husband Chuck Newman, and Lisa Carey and husband Kevin; her granddaughters, Elizabeth Fox and Melissa Carey Weems; her brothers Kenneth Wheeler and Ted Wheeler; her great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
A Funeral Service to celebrate Pat’s life will be held on Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at 2:00 PM in the Chapel of Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 1130 N. Winstead Ave., Rocky Mount, NC 27804. Burial will follow the service at Rocky Mount Memorial Park. Visitation with the family will be from 1:00 to 1:45pm prior to the service at Atrium of Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home and Cremation Services.
Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. You may share memories and condolences with the family by visiting www.wheelerwoodlief.com.
Services
Funeral Service: Tuesday, January 20, 2026 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Chapel of Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home
1130 N. Winstead Avenue
Rocky Mount, NC United States
27804
252-451-8800
Visitation: Tuesday, January 20, 2026 1:00 pm - 1:45 pm
Atrium of Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home
1130 N. Winstead Avenue
Rocky Mount, NC United States
27804
2524518800
Burial: Tuesday, January 20, 2026 3:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Rocky Mount Memorial Park
4454 Dortches Boulevard
Rocky Mount, NC United States
27804
252-937-4600







I am so sorry, Cynthia and Lisa. Blessings to you and your families.
So sorry for the loss of your mom. I can still hear her voice in my head each Christmas when she saw me exclaiming, “My! How you have grown!.” I’m glad I got to speak to her over the phone a couple of years ago as she shared memories and stories I had not heard before about her and my dad when they were growing up.