Pearl Wright Needham, of Pilot Mountain, passed away on Wednesday, August 31, 2011 at Golden Living Center in Mount Airy. She was 103. Mrs. Needham was born on October 15, 1907 to Albert and Mary Tickle Wright in Surry County. She grew up on Taylor Street in Mount Airy and attended Mount Airy City School in the early 1920’s. She met her husband, Carl Lee Needham Sr., while working at Woolworth’s in Winston-Salem and they married and moved to Pilot Mountain in 1929. She worked as a bookkeeper and secretary for Needham Funeral Home. In 1933, Mrs. Needham gave birth to her first son, Billy Wright Needham, followed by her second, Carl Lee Needham, Jr. in 1938. She raised her children and looked after her family on Butler Street for more than 70 years. She was known for her delicious pound cakes and a variety of homemade candies that she shared with her family and neighbors. Mrs. Needham was the oldest member, serving as a Sunday school teacher for several years, of the First Baptist Church of Pilot Mountain, attending regular service until her health failed. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Needham was preceded in death by her husband, Carl Needham; one son, C.L. Needham, Jr.; one grandson, Christopher Lacy Needham; three brothers, Jasper, Charlie and George Wright; and one sister, Effie Smith. Mrs. Needham is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Bill and Jane Needham of Mount Airy; one sister, Katie Gilbert of Winston-Salem; four grandchildren, Carl William Needham and wife Ginger of Advance, Raymond Douglas Needham and wife Tammy of Mocksville, Cheryl Jones and husband Joe, of Charlotte, Carl Lee Needham III and wife Cindy, of Charlotte, 12 great-grandchildren, Brandon William Needham, Nicholas Jay Needham, Logan Douglas Needham, Carl Needham IV and wife Shannon, Jordan Needham, Chet Needham, Cameron Needham, Thomas Wade Jr., Tyler Wade, Brandon Sawyers, Tyson Mangum and Taylor Mangum, as well as several nieces and nephews; and two great-great-granddaughters. Mrs. Needham was lovingly cared for by the nurses and staff at Golden Living Center during her illness, along with Mountain Valley Hospice nurse Tina Leonard, RN and hospice caretakers, Pat Sawyers and Penny Smith. Her personal caretaker, Kay Bennett, gave special care. Funeral Services will be held will be held at the Cox-Needham Funeral Home Chapel on Saturday, September 3, 2011 at 2:00 PM with the Rev. Anthony Haysworth presiding. Burial will be held in the Pilot Mountain City Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorials are to be made to Mountain Valley Hospice, 401 Technology Lane, Suite 200, Mt. Airy, NC 27030 or the donor’s choice. Cox-Needham Funeral Home of Pilot Mountain (www.coxneedham.com, www.facebook.com/coxneedham is respectfully serving the Needham family.