Pam Westrick

Celina - Pamela Carol Westrick passed from this life on January 22, 2016. She was born in Raleigh, N.C. on June 16, 1953 to Dr. Charles and Mollie Westrick, who both preceded her in death along with her sister, Debra Westrick. Pam graduated in 1971 from Mount Tabor High School in Winston-Salem, N.C. She received her B.A. degree in Theater from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. While studying there, she was mentored by prominent author and actor Spalding Gray, and remained friends with him until his passing. During those years she spent two summers traveling around Europe, immersing herself into local life wherever she was at the time. Upon returning, she attended Peabody College at Vanderbilt University. Pam went on to receive her Master's degree in Special Education and an Ed.S. from Tennessee Technological University. Pam taught Special Education for almost 20 years, first at Fox Elementary in Gainesboro and then later retiring from Maple Grove School in Clay county, the last one-room schoolhouse in TN. She was very esteemed in her field, and was beloved by both her fellow teachers and her students. She made many contributions in education and ultimately received a Teacher of the Year award while in the Clay County School System. Pam was known as a tremendously generous person, willing to share with so many. She had many wonderful friends from all walks of life. Spending time with her friends, listening to music, and dancing brought her great joy. She loved to garden, take long walks with her dogs and her friends, and spend countless hours on her houseboat on Dale Hollow Lake celebrating just about any occasion. Pam quite fondly remembered her mother taking her to Greensboro, NC, to civil rights sit-ins and marches, and she was active in political, environmental, and women's issues her whole life. Pam's friends remember her great love of nature and gardening. She transformed her homestead into a lovely sanctuary for plants, animals, and people. Pam loved more than anything to be happy, and to increase the amount of happiness in the lives of her friends and the world. She succeeded in this extraordinarily well. She is survived by an Uncle Bob Geise in Northumberland, PA. and five cousins. Pam had numerous godchilden who loved her dearly, and to whom she was a loving mother-figure. A Celebration of Life ceremony will be held in the future. Family and friends will be notified.