Gilda Vaughn Whitaker Pruitt, 82, of Shelby, passed away peacefully at Wendover Hospice House of Cleveland County on January 3, 2026, following an extensive illness.

Born on November 3, 1943, in Cleveland County, she was the daughter of the late Elmer Vaughn Whitaker and Kathryn Hardin Whitaker.

Gilda grew up on the family home place, where growing cotton, gardening, curing hams, and preserving foods for winter were an important part of her life. Her talent for cooking and canning was instilled in her at an early age. She spent happy days riding horses with her family and being terrorized by her chore of gathering eggs from the henhouse.

Gilda attended Number Three School from elementary through high school and was a proud graduate of the Class of 1961. She graduated from Kings Business College in Charlotte and later from Gardner-Webb University. It was at Number Three where Gilda became active in the 4-H Club, participating in many competitions and winning often. She saw the impact that 4-H made in the lives of children in Cleveland County and supported the local 4-H Club throughout her life.

In 1975, Gilda served as the first president of the revived Greater Shelby Community Theater, and the first production--Thornton Wilder's Our Town--was presented in the auditorium of Shelby Junior High School. This love of the arts was evident throughout Gilda's life, as she enjoyed expressing herself through her writing and being a member of the Piedmont Writers' Guild. She knew the thrill of seeing some of her articles published in local magazines.

Gilda's early employment was in a secretarial position at PPG of Shelby. When her children were young, she served as the director of Aldersgate UMC Playschool. She later served as Human Resources Director at Kemet Electronics, retiring in 2004.

A devoted member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church for many years, Gilda served the Lord in numerous capacities. The friendships she formed through her church family cultivated many lifelong relationships.

Gilda enjoyed being with people, especially her family, and loved hosting them at her lake home. She was a longtime member of a bridge group at the Senior Center and looked forward to their weekly meetings. Gilda loved to travel with Linzy and enjoyed sharing with family and friends their experiences as they visited all 50 states and many foreign countries. Much of their time was spent enjoying their beach home in Surfside Beach, SC.

In addition to her parents, Gilda was preceded in death by her son, Jeffrey Cooper; her stepdaughter, Lynda Ervin; and her step-grandson, Troy Yelton. She was also preceded in death by many cherished cousins, aunts, and uncles.

Gilda is survived by her devoted husband, Linzy; her son, Jonathan Cooper, and his friend, Margaret, of Charlotte; two grandchildren; Zachary and Lauren Cooper, one stepdaughter; and nine step-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother, Gary Hardin Whitaker, Sr., and his wife, Trena, of Shelby; as well as her special friends and relatives, Celia and Daryl, Anita, and Rodney and Betty ("Sissy"); and numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life service for Gilda Whitaker Pruitt will be held at 2:00 PM Thursday, January 8, 2026, at Sulphur Springs Methodist Church, with Rev. Kathy Houser and Rev. Curtis Goforth officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service in the church fellowship hall. Burial will follow the service in the church cemetery.

The family would like to thank the compassionate and caring staff of Wendover Hospice House in Shelby for providing Gilda with kindhearted dignity during her final days.

Memorial donations may be made to the Cemetery fund of Sulphur Springs Methodist Church:

Online condolences may be shared at www.cecilmburtonfuneralhome.com.

Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to serve the family.