Erma "Nita" Stembridge, 94, of Vernon, AL, passed away at Generations of Vernon on July 30, 2022. Funeral services will be Tuesday, August 2, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. at Dowdle Funeral Home in Millport, AL, with Bro. Matthew Byars officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service in the chapel. Burial will follow at Mt. Olive Cemetery in Millport, AL.

Nita loved serving and taking care of others, including  her days working in Dietary Department of Vernon Hospital. After retirement, her most cherished times were spent with her beloved husband Burl, friends and family. If you knew Nita, she had made or baked you something. Her smile was sunshine and had a heart of solid gold.  She always had children and grandchildren surrounding her, teaching them how to garden and cook, along with other important life lessons in and out of the kitchen. In her later years, she enjoyed her rose garden and quilting with her neighborhood friends. She often volunteered her time with Ladies Auxiliary Fleet Reserve Association, spending many hours at Millport Senior Activity Center with her younger brother Kenneth. She was as sassy as she was sweet; the staff and friends at Generations of Vernon and Amedisys Hospice learned this quickly. She had to have her jewelry on no matter what was on the agenda for the day and everyone knew when it was salon day because she wasn't going to miss it. She gained so many friends and heartfelt memories through her time there and her loved ones are forever grateful.

She is survived by her daughter, Wanda J White Beard, one sister, Betty Jean Pearson Hills of Campaign, TN, two brothers, William "Joe" Pearson of Fayette, AL, Robert Pearson (Billie June) of Batesville, MS, 8 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Willie Burl Stembridge, her parents, John Pearson and Nona Hancock, son, Gerald Wayne White, sister, Mamie "Trixie" Pearson Bray, brothers, Kenneth Pearson, Ed Pearson, Frank Pearson, Buddy Pearson, Raymond Pearson, John Pearson, Albert Pearson and grandson Travis White.

Pallbearers are Wayne White, John White, Hutch Beard, Ross Evans, Bailey Evans and Tim Evans.