Mrs. Vivian Pettiford McLaughlin

November 17, 1925 - June 13, 2018

Mrs. Vivian Pettiford McLaughlin, age 92, departed this life and entered eternal heavenly peace on June 13, 2018. Mrs. McLaughlin was born in Granville County, North Carolina on November 17, 1925 to the late Benjamin Herndon and France's Holman Pettiford. Vivian moved to Durham, N.C. with her family at an early age and joined Mt. Zion Baptist Church for a number of years. She joined St. Joseph A.M.E. Church and was a faithful member for over 50 years. Vivian was married to John W. McLaughlin. To this union two children were born; Ronald E. McLaughlin and Rosalyn Gayle McLaughlin-Nelson. Vivian attended grade school in Durham and graduated from Hillside High School in the class of 1944. She took extra courses at Durham Tehnical Community College. Vivian was employed at the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurane Company for 42 years. Vivian was an active and faithful member of St. Joseph's Church Senior Choir for over 50 years. She was a member of the Mary C. Evans Missionary Unit of the Minnie S. Pearson Women's Missionary Society, a member of the Lay Organization, a member of the Wednesday Night Bible Study class, the Tuesday Bible Study Class and a Class Leader at St. Joseph for a short time. Vivian was also a member of the N.C. Mutual Retiree Club. She worked at the Polls, Precinct 13 at Burton Scholl and volunteered at Lincoln Hospital as a "Pink Smock Lady" for a number of years. Vivian was a loving and caring person. She tried to help people in any way she could. Vivian was never too busy to help her friends, neighbors and family when they needed her help. She always said, "This is what God wants me to do" "Love thy neighbor as thyself". She would always greet you with a smile, a hug or a pat on the back. Vivian was a people person. Vivian is preceded in death by her husband, John W. McLaughlin, son, Ronald Elvert McLaughlin and brothers, Holman T. Pettiford and B. Marcellus Pettiford. Vivian leaves to cherish her memories, a loving daughter, Rosalyn Gayle McLaughlin-Nelson, a loving son-in-law, Samuel K. Nelson, loving granddaughters, Alayne McLaughlin-Nelson of Bethesda, M.D. and Regina Quarteya, a loving grandson, Nicholas Odoi, one great grandson, Alijah D. Hatten, loving nieces, Hedvah P. Henderson (Durham, N.C.), Gloria McAuley (Durham, N.C.), Adele Kingsberry (Raleigh, N.C.), and a nephew, Attorney Gary Henderson (Durham, N.C.), grand nephews, Brandon Henderson (Atlanta, G.A.) and Devon Henderson (New York, New York), a sister-in-law, Helen McLaughlin and a host of other loving family and friends.