Josephine Roberta (Finch) Pratt

MRS. JOSEPHINE ROBERTA FINCH PRATT  93, of  ALBEMARLE, NC, formerly of Mt. Gilead, NC, passed away Thursday,  February  11, 2021, at Atrium  Health-Stanly, Albemarle, NC.

Private Virtual Services were held February 22, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. officiated by Reverend Walter Barnes..  Local arrangements are by  Harris Funeral Home and Cremations of  Mt. Gilead,  NC, who is serving the Pratt and extended families.

Zoom Link"https://tinyurl.com/jatSvwfk   Passcode:059509

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations to be sent toward her scholarship fund or to purchase trees which will be planted at her birthday celebration in September.  www.venmo.com/jopratt1

On Thursday, morning, February 11, 2021, Josephine Roberta Finch Pratt was called home to eternal rest.  She was born on Saturday, September 17, 1921 in Los Angeles, California, to the late Winifred Ratcliff Finch and Dawson Cratic Finch and lived a full and robust life until the end.  On the night before,  she was videod riding her exercise bike with the zeal and determination that was so characteristic of her journey.

Josephine grew up in Philadelphia, PA, where the family moved during the Great Depression to be closer to extended family, immediately after losing her mother when she was seven.  She was an excellent student.  She graduated from Philadelphia High School for Girls; earned a Bachelor's Dzegree from St. Joseph's University and ultimately her Master's Degree in  Library Science from Villanova University.

Josephine worked as an educator her entire life.  While raising six children, she put herself through college attending night school.  During early years, she worked at the Free Library of Philadelphia in the Children's Library section, initially as a volunteer before becoming a full time employee.  After completing her degrees, she worked for the Philadelphia Board of Education initially at the Pedological Library.  However, her true calling was the classroom with children, so she transferred to elememtary and finally high school heak librarian positions, including Benjamin Franklin High Schooll.  She retired from the Philadelphia School System in 1995.  After retirement, she continued to teach and help students obtain their high school GED certificates, even in Mt. Gilead, North Carolina, where she and Charles moved after retirement.

Josephine had a passion for life and learning.  She loved sharing what she knew.  Her multiple interests included traveling globally, listening to music, reading, crocheting and teaching African American History.  For example, every February during African American History Month, she put together exhibits for her classes and the local community,  She was also the family historian and geneaologist. She believed you could better understand where you are going if you better understood where you came from.

Josephine married Charles Henry Pratt, Sr., in January of 1947.  They were married over 52 years at the time of his passing in 1999.  To that blessed union were born six children including, Charles Jr., Gregory, Valerie, Richard, Ralph and William (Bill).  She is survived by a brother, William Edward Finch, who is now 99 1/2 and Peggy his wife.  She has 14 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren, 19, great-great-grandchildren as swell as numerous nieces, nephews, and in-laws, all whom she dearly loved. Josephine was truly the matriarch of our fqamily.  To many, she was Mom.  She will be missed by many who found treasure in her advice and counsel.  She always took the long view believing that self sufficiency was achievable through the gateway of education.