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Larry “Heath” Pridgeon, 49, of Perry passed away unexpectedly on Friday, Aug. 23, 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He was born April 25, 1975, to Larry and Elaine Pridgeon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He was a Baptist and a member of Crosspoint Baptist Church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He was a 1993 graduate of Taylor County High School where he graduated Magna Cum Laude and participated in the marching band as a drummer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He then went on to obtain his AA degree from North Florida Community College and his medial coding\/billing degree from Tallahassee Community College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Heath loved spending time with his family and friends. His passions were teaching his beloved students, fishing, being outdoors, Legos, Minecraft and the Florida State Seminoles. “GO NOLES”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Heath served the students of Taylor and surrounding counties as a career and technical education (CTE) teacher in the field of health science: specifically, as the instructor for Big Bend Technical College’s (BBTC) Medical Coder\/Biller (MCB) Program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prior to teaching, Heath worked 15 years in the medical coder\/biller field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He opened BBTC’s MCB program in August 2018. In his six-year tenure, he trained adult and dual enrolled high school students, many of whom are now working in the health care industry as professional medical coder and\/or billers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Heath exemplified lifelong learning, teaching students not only the skills of MCB, but also employability skills that lead to successful careers. Heath was BBTC’s \u201cTeacher of the Year\u201d in 2021 and was named the 2024 Florida Association for Career and Technical Education’s \u201cTeacher of the Year\u201d in July.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He was proceeded in death by: his parents Larry and Elaine (Ricketson) Pridgeon; his grandparents, Bill and Louise Ricketson and Berlin and Ida Mae Pridgeon; his uncles, Billy Ricketson (PawPaw) and Jimmy Pridgeon; and aunt, Pam Pridgeon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He is survived by: his sister Erinn (Jason) Spradley; his nephews, Austin Pridgeon, with whom he had a special bond, Jaydin Spradley and Dylan Spradley; niece, Addyson Spradley; his aunts, Margaret Ricketson (Meemaw), Linda (Gary) Williams and Francis Pridgeon; uncles, Eddie (Cheri) Pridgeon, and Billy Pridgeon; special cousins (more like siblings) Robby (Natalie, Matt, Marliegh and Drew), Cheryl and Vanessa Ricketson; his dear friend, Andrew Berg, and goddaughter Lily Berg; and close friend, Lori Fewell; as well as a host of extended family and friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Funeral services for Heath will be held Thursday, Aug. 29, at 4:30 p.m., at Crosspoint Baptist Church with Brother Eddie Pridgeon Officiating. The family will receive friends tonight (Wednesday) from 6-8 p.m. at Burns Funeral Home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A private family inurnment will take place at a later date in New Hope Cemetery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n