The Life of Jackson Lee Pittman IV

Jackson Lee Pittman IV of Roanoke, Va., passed peacefully at his home on Tuesday, April 9, 2024.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Valeta; his sister, Emily and her husband, Art Hudson, and their two sons, Stuart Hudson and Seth Hudson and his wife, Cecily, and their children, Jack and Elise.

Jack was born in Hamlet, North Carolina, on July 29, 1944, and was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Sarah.

Jack had four great passions in his life: his family, Wake Forest University, golf, and learning. It is no wonder that growing up in the vicinity of Pinehurst, NC that Jack developed a passion for golf. He could be just as happy hitting practice balls on the range as playing eighteen holes on Pinehurst #2.

Jack always said the greatest break he ever had was when he was accepted at Wake Forest University. It was the perfect fit for him and after graduating in 1966, he continued his studies at Winston Salem with a medical degree in 1970 from Bowman Gray School of Medicine.

He was drafted into the United States Army Medical Corps and served a tour of duty in Vietnam. Jack returned to Winston Salem to become a pathology resident at Bowman Gray. It was there that he met Valeta, who was a student in the medical technology program at N C Baptist Hospital. They married in 1978 and moved to Roanoke where Jack began his pathology career at Roanoke Memorial Hospital. In addition to his board certification in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, Jack also received board certification in Blood Banking/Transfusion Medicine.  For many years he taught blood banking to the medical technology students at Roanoke Memorial Hospital.

As a life-long learner, Jack loved taking business, accounting, and foreign language courses at Virginia Western Community College. Little did his family know, this was all in preparation of an early retirement and a return to his beloved Wake Forest University as a full-time student. In 2006 at the age of 62, he graduated with a Master of Business Administration, the oldest MBA student in WFU history. He was honored as the Outstanding Entrepreneurship Graduate. It was a dream fulfilled.

Jack had the best role models in his life. From his father, he learned how to bait a hook, go bird hunting, swing a golf club, but most importantly, how to be a gentleman. From his mother, he learned the joy of infectious laughter, unconditional love, and the appreciation of a meal lovingly prepared. Always a good student, Jack learned these lessons well.

There will be a private family ceremony to honor Jack’s life. The family would like to thank the many caregivers from Nexus, Visiting Angels, and Good Samaritan Hospice, and Barbara and Dixon who were of great comfort to Jack and Valeta over the past year.

Memorial may be made in Jack’s name to Good Samaritan Center for Caring, 4751 Cove Road, NW, Roanoke, VA 24019. Condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.Oakeys.com.

Arrangements by Oakey’s Funeral Service – South Chapel, Roanoke, VA (540) 989-3131.