Tola Wilkerson Dellinger

Tola Brightwell Wilkerson Dellinger, age 104, of Thomasville, North Carolina passed away peacefully on Friday, July 23, 2021.  She was preceded in death by her husband Roy E. Dellinger and her son Dr. Thomas C. Dellinger.  Tola is survived by her son Robert E. Dellinger and his wife Ellen of Davidson, NC and her daughter-in-law Nancy E. Dellinger of Oxford, MS.  She was the loving Grandmother to Kirsten, Kelly, Todd, Rob, Jenny & Dean and will always be remembered as “GG” to her eight great grandchildren.

Tola was born December 12, 1916 in Prince Edward County, Virginia to John Hopkins Wilkerson & Margaret Ann Reynolds.  Tola was one of 11 children, the youngest of 6 daughters, all of them raised on the family’s tobacco farm near Prospect, VA.  She grew up attending a one-room school with a burning stove, where her older sister, Mary, was her first teacher.  Upon graduation, she sought out a career as a secretary before the Depression impacted her job prospects.  Around that time, she moved to North Carolina to help her sister Thelma Wilkerson Whicker of China Grove, where she met Roy.  They were married in 1938 and raised their 2 sons primarily in Rockwell & Thomasville, NC, where Roy enjoyed a long career in textiles.

Tola was smart and charismatic.  As a mother, Tola was dedicated to her sons and their many athletic pursuits.  She was renowned for her loud, supportive whistling at their games.  She loved God, family, and sports.  Later in life, she took up golf and played into her 80s.  Tola famously hit a hole-in-one during a round of golf at the Stanly County Country Club, followed by an equally impressive “putt-putt-in-one” at her 100th birthday celebration in 2016.

In retirement, the Dellingers settled in Albemarle, NC, where Tola loved gatherings with her whole family for home-grown vegetable dinners.  She had a great love of music, especially hymns, and was known to spontaneously break into song and often left “singing” voice messages on answering machines. Tola also loved drawing, painting, and sharing her talents with others.  She was a devout Christian, whose faith was the true foundation for her life.  She recently said, “From childhood until now, I know that God has been with me.”

In 1995, Tola and Roy returned to Thomasville to live at the Piedmont Crossing Retirement Community.  Tola was a constant presence at many Piedmont functions, including bible study, church services & bingo.  The Dellinger Family would like to express our sincere gratitude and thanks to the wonderful staff of Piedmont Crossing.  They were part of her extended family for over 25 years providing unparalleled love and support for Tola. 

In lieu of flowers, friends and family may make donations to UCHS Foundation in support of the Piedmont Crossing Benevolent Fund, 100 Hedrick Drive, Thomasville, NC  27360.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.