Mrs. Paulette McCoy Thorogood, a loving wife, mother, grandmother and award-winning educator, was born December 8, 1956 in Portsmouth, Virginia. She made her peaceful transition to heaven on August 6, 2020. She was married to Keith A. Thorogood for 42 years, 8 months and 6 days. There are two children who were produced from this union, Arlo M. Thorogood and Jonathan A. Thorogood. She was blessed to have two daughters-in-law, Cynthia Thorogood and Crystal Thorogood; and, five grandchildren, Morgan Cheyenne Martin, Gabriella Isabelle Jones, Roman Moses Alonzo Thorogood, Caleb Mikhael Jonathan Thorogood, Judah Jezreel Asa Thorogood, before her transition to heaven. Paulette's mother is Rosa McCoy; and, her father was the late Herbert McCoy, Sr., who passed away in 2004. There are seven siblings in Paulette's family—Jacquelyn A. McCoy (Portsmouth, VA), Gregory l. McCoy (Fayetteville, NC), Jeffrey l. McCoy (Waldorf, MD), Kenneth l. McCoy (Crestview, FL), Stacie McCoy (Suffolk, VA), Herbert McCoy, Jr. (Stafford, VA), and Mark Barnes.

Paulette grew up on Lilley Farm in Chesapeake, Virginia. She attended Southwestern Elementary, Western Branch Middle School and Western Branch High School. Paulette received her undergraduate degree from Norfolk State University and taught grades Pre-K through 2nd grade. She loved teaching and all of her students. Paulette taught in schools, for over 30 years combined, in Portsmouth, Suffolk and Newport News. The last 11 years of her career were spent in Newport News, where she became teacher of the year (2016-2017) at Marshall early learning center. She ultimately retired from teaching on September 2, 2019.

Paulette truly enjoyed traveling. She received her first passport in 1990 when she and her husband visited Vienna, Austria and Budapest, Hungary. Over the span of her lifetime, Paulette was privileged to travel abroad several times, and extensively throughout the United States.

She leaves behind a host of loving family members, friends, former students and colleagues who will cherish her memory. Paulette's best friend for over 30 years, with whom she shared many life and work experiences, was Carolyn Jackson. She was also great friends with Venus Carter, for over 7 years. Both friendships meant the world to Paulette, both personally and professionally; and, she wishes them to know this is the case.

Paulette McCoy Thorogood lived life to its fullest. May she rest in eternal peace.