Dateline: Oak City, NC

Ms. Virginia Dare Whitfield Bento McPherren, 101, of NC Hwy. 125 passed away peacefully Monday August 31, 2026, at Bryan Health & Rehibition in Scotland Neck, NC.

Ms. Virginia was born November 24, 1924, in Martin County to the late Joe Ben Whitfield and Elizabeth Briley Whitfield.

A lifelong resident of Oak City, NC Virginia was deeply rooted in the community she called home. She graduated from Oak City High School and was a faithful lifelong member of the Oak City Baptist Church, were her faith and friendships were an important part of life.

Ms. Virginia was a proud graduate of Florida State University in 1975 with Bachelor of Arts, Criminology Certificate in corrections, also Canal Zone College associate’s in arts in 1974 and in 1981 a graduate of ECU Nursing a Licensed Practical Nurse from the NC Board of Nursing. She spent a few years of her nursing career caring for others at Tarboro Hospital. She had a giving heart and strong spirit, qualities that served her well throughout her long and remarkable life.

Ms. Virginia married Mr. Charles William McPherren April 16, 1989. Virginia never met a craft she didn’t enjoy, and especially spending time creating things with her hands. She also enjoyed playing golf and traveling and making memories with her Husband Charles and her family. One of her favorite adventures was traveling to Texas with her Husband Charles driving their motor home, where they would spend six months at the time. Ms. Virgina drove back to Texas one last time when she was in her nineties pulling her car along with the motorhome. Together, Virginia and Charles shared a love of music and singing, and their time together was filled with songs, laughter, and companionship.

Ms. Virginia had a sweet personality that was impossible to forget. She was independent, strong-willed, and was never afraid to speak her mind. She had a particular talent for correcting other people and in her mind, she was usually right! Her family will forever remember her favorite declarations. “I’m the boss, and I’m in charge.” And if you knew Ms. Virginia you knew she meant it.

Above all else, Ms. Virgina loved her family and treasured the time spent together and leaves behind a lifetime of memories that will be cherished for generations to come. At 101 years old she has witnessed a century of change, but the things that mattered most to her were faith, family, love, music and traveling. Her family takes comfort in knowing that the woman who spent a lifetime telling everyone she was the boss has left behind a legacy that will continue to guide and inspire those who loved her. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.

Ms. Virginia is predeceased be her parents, several brothers, sisters, her husband Charles William McPherren and daughter Betty Jo Bento. She is survived by her grandsons: Donald Robert Wright of Bridgeton, and Jospeh William Wright of Kinston, and two great grandchildren: Jayden and Emily Wright and many nieces and nephews.

A graveside funeral service will be held on Friday September 4, 2026, at 2:00 PM at the Whitfield family plot in the Oak City Cemetery with Pastor Louis Cook officiating. The following will serve as pallbearers: Bentley Hardison, John Rhea, Tim Bryant and Steve Turner. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 1:00 PM till 1:45 PM at the Oak City Baptist Church and travel to the cemetery in procession.

Online condolences may be directed to: www.WalkerFH.net

Walker Funeral Home of Williamston, is honored to serve the McPherren family.