Moleta Waddell Freeman, 102, of Pittsboro, entered into eternal rest Saturday (08/06/22) at the SECU Jim & Betsy Bryan Hospice Home of UNC Health Care in Pittsboro.
Moleta was born in Randolph County on Feb. 28, 1920, to Mr. Charles and Mrs. Minnie Waddell. She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, two sisters, Ruth Horton and Mildred Austin and a son, Franklin Kirby (Sarah).
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Mary Strowd Ward Riggsbee died August 3, 2022, at age 96. She was born July 5, 1926, in Durham, North Carolina, to Mary Strowd and Robert Ward. She is survived by her sister, Kathryn Paul, daughter Lydia Maher (Steve), daughter-in-law, Lunday Riggsbee; nine grandchildren: Abraham, Zachary, Nathaniel, Dillon, Tessa, Alannah, Kathryn, Daniel, and William, and by 17 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Baxter, and son Fred.
Mary Strowd attended school in Chatham County and graduated from Pittsboro High School in 1943. She attended Louisburg Junior College, where she was a member of the Student Council, Baptist Student Union, Yearbook, newspaper, Phi Theta Kappa National Honorary Scholastic Fraternity, and was secretary of Beta Phi Gamma National Co-educational Journalistic Fraternity. She then attended UNC Chapel Hill in the field of Journalism, working with The Daily Tar Heel, and worked in the UNC-CH Library after graduation. Her strength in Journalism was recognized by the Wall Street Journal.
Mary Strowd married Baxter Riggsbee on August 7, 1948. She began her career in the Chatham County Schools by working in the Central Office, then she taught English and Library Science from 1949-1953 at Moncure High School. She then began teaching at Pittsboro High School, but after Fred was born, she stayed home until 1960, when she returned to teaching at Pittsboro High School, and continued after Pittsboro High School consolidated with Horton High School and became Northwood High School. While teaching, she got her MA from North Carolina Central University and became Librarian at Northwood. She retired from the school system in 1988, with 31 years of service. She is remembered by many of her former students as an excellent teacher, firm but fair, and one of the best they ever had.
After retirement, she continued as an active member of Pittsboro Methodist Church, teaching Sunday School and serving as Secretary of the United Methodist Women. She also served as an officer of Alpha Delta Kappa Honorary Fraternity. However, after retirement, much of her time was spent with her grandchildren, enjoying and caring for them, taking them to Jordan Lake and to the beach, and surrounding her family with love.
Mary Strowd’s family would like to thank Barbara McQueen, Chris Tabon, Rhonda Goldston, Jessica Lucas, Kierra Marsh, and the UNC Hospice providers for the wonderful care she received from them.
The family received friends Tuesday, August 9, 2022, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Donaldson Funeral Home & Crematory, Griffin Chapel.
A memorial service was held Wednesday, August 10, 2022, at 9 a.m. at Pittsboro United Methodist Church with Rev. Lucas Nelson and Rev. Ray Gooch presiding. Her ashes, and Baxter’s, will then be buried at Mt. Gilead Baptist Church after the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made in Mary Strowd’s memory to UNC Hospice, P.O. Box 1077, Pittsboro, N.C. 27312, or the UNC Lineberger Cancer Hospital, P.O. Box 309, Chapel Hill, N.C. 27514 would be appreciated.
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July 4, 1924 ~ August 5, 2022
Irene Catherine Cooper Hackney, age 98, of Pittsboro, died Friday, August 5, 2022, at Parkview Health & Rehabilitation in Chapel Hill.
Irene was born July 4, 1924, in Pittsboro, to the late Lonnie Cooper and Lillie Smith Cooper. She was also preceded in death by her son: Kenneth Hackney and three brothers: Lonnie Cooper, Lloyd Cooper, and James Cooper. She grew up in a farming family where she learned the value of hard work in harvesting vegetables, picking cotton, and feeding the animals. As a child, she had a special lamb who followed her everywhere.
She graduated from Pittsboro High School in 1942. On July 12, 1951, she married the love of her life, Eva Hackney Jr., and shared 66 precious years until his death on December 23, 2017. Irene found true joy in both work and play. She enjoyed beach trips, mountain visits, and family birthday and holiday celebrations. Irene worked in textiles for over 35 years, first at Carrboro Woolen Mill and then Chatham Mills. After retirement, she enjoyed working in her flower and vegetable garden as well as reading. Irene loved and was an active member of Rock Spring Baptist Church until her declining health.
Besides her church, her greatest love and devotion was to her family. She is survived by two daughters Barbara McMasters and husband Joe, and Linda Glosson. She is also blessed with three granddaughters, Gina Thompson and husband Shawn, Allison McMasters, Candice Griffin, and husband Cody; one grandson, Joshua Glosson, and one great-grandson, Trey Thompson. Irene enjoyed cooking chicken and dumplings, fried chicken, potato salad, deviled eggs, biscuits, pound cake, and other goodies that her family loved.
Irene has lived in Pittsboro all her life, residing at two homes off Hwy. 15-501. After she broke her hip in 2018, she could no longer live at home. She then became a resident at Cambridge Hills Assisted Living.
The family would like to express their gratitude and appreciation to Cambridge Hills Assisted Living, Parkview Health & Rehabilitation and Liberty Hospice for their loving care and support to Irene and the attention by the wonderful staff.
The funeral service was held Monday, August 8, 2022, at 11 a.m. at Rock Spring Baptist Church with Pastor Wesley Thomas presiding. Burial followed in the church cemetery. The family received friends immediately following the committal service in the church fellowship hall.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made in Irene’s memory to Liberty Homecare & Hospice Services, 3414 N. Duke St. Suite G, Durham, N.C. 27704 and Rock Spring Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 82 Launis Street, Pittsboro, N.C. 27312.
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George Horton's passing at the age of 84 on Monday, August 8, 2022 has been publicly announced by Donaldson Funeral Home & Crematory, Griffin Chapel in Pittsboro, NC.
According to the funeral home, the following services have been scheduled: Funeral service, on August 16, 2022 at 1:00 p.m., at Donaldson Funeral Home & Crematory Griffin Chapel, 396 West St., Pittsboro, NC.
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