Born, raised, and married in North Carolina.  Moved household to Waldo, Florida in 1918 while husband, Dr, Claude Leonard Pridgen served in France during WWI.  Had home built on waterfront of Little Lake Santa Fe.  After war Dr, Pridgen had a practice in Waldo, Florida.   Ila Pridgen moved the household to Gainesville, Florida (in ????) when Dr. Pridgen's illness kept him from practicing.  Ila Pridgen worked as assistant to the dean of the law school at the University of Florida to support the family.  During WWII Ila Pridgen received her law degree and became one of the first 150 female lawyers in the state of Florida.  Rather than open a practice, Ila took on the position of Law Librarian which she held until her retirement.