Mary Alice Elliott

Mary Alice Elliott, passed away on Sunday May 23rd, 2021 at Shaire Rehabilitation Nursing and Assisted Living Center in Lenoir, North Carolina. She was born October 5, 1931 to the late Fred Marsh Elliott and Beulah Thomas Elliott and was a native of Granville County. She was also predeceased by her two sisters Sandra E. Connor of Granite Falls and Margaret E. Curl (Jim) of Cary.

She is survived by four nieces – Sharon C. Crawford (Misty) and Lynn Nicole Connor of Granite Falls; Renee C. Riggs (Buddy) of Raleigh; Karen C. Brendle (David) of Greensboro; one nephew Kevin Curl (Diana) of Mountain Home, Idaho, and several great nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Mary Alice graduated from Berea High School in 1949, Woman’s College, UNC in 1953 and received her M.ED from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1961. Her educational career expands forty plus years. She taught at A. L. Brown High School in Kannapolis, Roxboro High School, and Person High School where she was Chairman of Social Studies Department for 30 years. During her teaching years she was recognized with several awards. She won the Fulbright Scholarship to India in 1962. She won the Freedom Foundation Award twice, the George Washington Honor Medal five times, the Person County Board of Education Blue Ribbon Award twice; Thomas Person Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Teacher Award twice and in 1977 was named Person County Teacher of the Year. She was honored by the Person County Unit of the North Carolina Association of Educators, which named its annual scholarship the Mary Alice Elliott Educational Scholarship. Books have been written by two former students who acknowledged her. One wrote: “Mary Alice Elliott whose incredible grasp of history, piqued my interest as a teen.” The second said: “Mary Alice Elliott is one of six teachers who changed my life.”

For many years after retirement she was a Volunteer Reading Mentor at North Elementary in Roxboro. She would still drive every week from her home to Roxboro to volunteer - teach struggling fifth-grade readers. To celebrate the successful completion of a book they had read together – usually an illustrated classic that wasn’t in the child’s home, she purchased the books ahead of time and gave the classic to her tutees after she taught them to read it.

She celebrated a golden anniversary of membership in Alpha Delta Kappa (ADK) an international honors sorority for female educators. She was invited to join N.C. Mu Chapter, transferred to N.C. Alpha Lambda Chapter and became a member of N. C. Chi Chapter. In her 55 years plus, she presided twice as President, held the office of Vice President, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, Chaplin and served on many committees.

She had a life membership in Granville County Historical Society; Saturday Book Club; Books Sandwiched In; Richard Thornton Library Trustee of the Granville County Library System; Granville County Historical Museum; Christian Women’s Club in Roxboro and Executive Board of Person County Retired School Personnel.

She was a cancer survivor for many years. She was a wonderful cook and was known in Granville and Person Counties for her chocolate fudge, cakes and casseroles. She cooked for family, friends, Church and especially for ALPHA DELTA KAPPA Scholarship Fund. Bids for the Scholarship Funds ran high each year when she baked cakes of assorted flavors for sale along with several batches of fudge. She also enjoyed canning and freezing foods and working in her yard as long as she was able. She still found time to cheer on the UNC Tarheels and travel. She had the opportunity to travel extensively throughout the United States and abroad in Europe, Asia and Africa.

She was the glue that held her family together. She planned luncheons and special occasions for her family to be together. She was a blessing to many and leaves them with great memories.

She loved her church family at Sharon Baptist Church. Christ was always at the center of her life. Here she taught her Sunday School Class, The Rose of Sharon; served as Clerk, was a member of WMU; Deaconess; and taught Adult Vacation Bible School.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 29, 2021 at 11:00 am at Sharon Baptist Church, 6746 Goshen Rd., Oxford, NC 27565. Receiving will be held from 10:00 to 11:00 at Sharon Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the Church Cemetery. Memorials may be made in Mary Alice’s memory to: The Reverend Billy and Kaye Lynch Scholarship Fund, Sharon Baptist Church.

The Elliott family is proudly being served by Gentry-Newell & Vaughan Funeral Home, 503 College Street, Oxford, NC. Online Memorials: www.GNVFuneralHome.com.