MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR MARY UPTON
AUG 23rd 11AM, FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IN CLINTON
Mary Idena Talley Upton, age 79 of Clinton,
died Wednesday, August 13 at St Joseph
of the Pines Skilled Nursing Facility in Southern Pines NC after battling metastatic
breast and ovarian cancer for over a year. Mrs. Upton was born November 19, 1934 in High Point,
NC - the daughter of the late Frank and Etta Ellen
(Saunders) Talley, and was raised in Randleman,
NC.
Upton received her undergraduate degree from Woman’s College (now UNC-Greensboro) in 1956. On June 22, 1957 she married her high school sweetheart, George Philmore Upton, Jr, also of Randleman, and moved to Clinton, NC, where together they raised a family. Upton continued her higher education by receiving a Masters in Adult Education from NC State University in the mid-70s. Upton taught hundreds of students secretarial courses at Sampson Community College. She retired in 1993 after 30 years of teaching to travel and spend time with family and friends.
Upton
was an avid bridge player, a fantastic hostess whose culinary skills were
renowned, and a faithful member of the First United Methodist Church of
Clinton, where she sang in the choir for decades.
In addition to her parents, Upton is preceded in death by her son, George Philmore “Phil” Upton, III; five sisters Eugenia “Jinks” Milliken, Dorothy “Dot” Williams, Mildred Crawford, Frances Hughes, and Ann Coghill; and six brother-in-laws Watson Milliken, Lon Williams, Asa Crawford, George Hughes, Joe “Herb” Sherman, and Carl Coghill.
Upton is survived by her husband of 57 years as well as her
daughter and son in law Erica and Terry Peterson of Vass, NC; a half-sister,
Ruth Sherman of Wilson, NC; a sister-in-law and her husband Janice & Dewey
Gaines of Randleman, NC; 15 nieces and nephews and 28 great-nieces and
great-nephews as well as numerous great,great-nieces and great, great-nephews.
Friends and family are invited to gather for a memorial
service at First United
Methodist Church
in Clinton, NC at 11 AM on Saturday, August 23 with Reverend
T. R. Miller officiating. A private
burial service for immediate family only was held at the family plot in the Springvale Cemetery.
The family requests in lieu of flowers, any donations and memorials be given to the Sampson County History Museum (313 Lisbon Street, Clinton NC 28328): the NC Children’s Home Society (P.O. Box 14608, Greensboro, NC 27415): or the George Upton, Jr. Livestock Endowment for Sampson County (NCSU Box 7645, Raleigh NC 27695-7645). Crumpler Honeycutt Funeral Home in Clinton is serving the family, online condolences may be offered at www.crumpler-honeycutt.com |