Ila Vee Nealey Penny, age 83, of Whiteville, NC, died Tuesday, March 4, 2025 in the NorthChase Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Wilmington, NC. Born June 2, 1941 in Columbus County, NC, she was the daughter of the late Fred and Shula Carteret Nealey and the widow of Woodrow Franklin “Jack” Penny.
She was a member of Beaverdam Original Free Will Baptist Church. She was also the Register of Deeds for Columbus County for 38 years.
She is survived by two daughters, Vanessa Penny Stanley (Henry) of Southport, NC, and Valerie Penny Tarte of Wilmington, NC; five grandchildren, Caleb Stanley of Durham, NC, Elias Stanley (Celie) of Wake Forest, NC, Isaac Stanley of Southport, NC, Masen Tarte of Raleigh, NC, and Nealey Tarte of Chapel Hill, NC.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Jerry Duncan and Jackie Nealey; and two sisters, Agnes McPherson and Sarah Blackwell.
Visitation will be held Thursday, March 6, 2025 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM in the Inman Ward Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be held Friday, March 7, 2025 at 11:00 AM in the Inman Ward Funeral Home Chapel with burial to follow in the McPherson Cemetery, Chadbourn, NC.
A service of Inman Ward Funeral Home & Crematory
