Valerie Riley

Valerie Mae Riley, 71, of Hickory died Sunday, October 22, 2023, at Frye Regional Medical Center. Born December 10, 1951, in Catawba County. She was the daughter of the late Thomas Minton Rosenbaum and Pauline Cox Rosenbaum.

Valerie was a collector of things, but she also collected friendships. She loved "Rambling" with her best friend Wanda Little and collecting her many treasures. She loved to sing southern gospel hymns with her grandson, Braxton. She could get sassy and even a little salty and would do both with a smile on her face. She was a born-again Christian which made her daughters face light up. She was a phenomenal nana who would do anything for her family. She loved her grand-Fur babies and talked to her family daily.

Her daughter LaWanda (Jeff) Brown, son Timothy (Tracy) Worsham, sisters Diane Summey and Betty Rosenbaum, three grandchildren; Braxton T. Brown, Timothy Brown, and Mara Jade Worsham and 2 great-grandchildren survive her.

She is proceeded in death by her parents of Hickory and siblings; Charles "Junior" Rosenbaum, David Roy Rosenbaum, James Donald "JD" Rosenbaum, Ernest Lee Rosenbaum, and Ronnie Rosenbaum.

As Valerie would say this is "not goodbye, but so long....."

Memorial Service will be Wednesday, October 25, 2023, at 3pm at Jenkins Funeral Home Chapel. Visitation will be held at 2pm Wednesday, October 25, 2023, Jenkins Funeral Home.

Donations may be made Jenkins Funeral Home 4081 Startown Rd. Newton, NC 28658 or Pregnancy Care Center of Catawba Valley 421 Main Avenue SW Hickory, NC 28602


Please sign the online guestbook on the Memorial Wall at www.jenkinsfuneralhome.net. The Riley family has entrusted arrangements to Jenkins Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Newton 828-464-1555.