Mary Weatherby

Waynesville, Mary Emma Massie Weatherby, age 95, of 657 S. Main Street, died on Sunday, August 3, 2008 at her residence. Mrs. Weatherby was born in Waynesville on December 8, 1912 to Thomas Newton Massie and Maggie Evans Massie. She remained in Waynesville her entire life except for her college years at Greensboro College, where she received her degree in English and History Education. She returned to Haywood County and taught school for 30 years, first at Saunook, later Allen's Creek, and then Hazelwood. She had the good fortune to help open both the new Waynesville Township High School and Tuscola High School to students. After teaching College Preparatory English at Waynesville Township High School until 1961, she received her degree in Library Science and became the school librarian there. She was most proud of her role in helping to plan, decorate, and furnish the Tuscola media center where she worked until her retirement. She was charter president of Alpha Rho, a chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa Honorary Society, a very selective international sorority for women educators. She was an officer of the Western District of School Librarians and a director of the NC Association of School Librarians. She was also a member of the First United Methodist Church of Waynesville and served her church in many capacities until her health diminished. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Carleton Eddy "COACH" Weatherby. Mrs. Weatherby was also preceded in death by her parents; seven brothers, James, Hugh, Lebo, Guy, T.N., Francis, and Harold Massie; and four sisters, Jessie Massie Shumaker, Myrtle Massie Ray Wagenfeld, Nora Massie Reece, and Margaret Massie Parkman. Mrs. Weatherby is survived by her daughter, Jean Weatherby Edwards and her husband, Ralph Thomas Edwards of Greensboro, NC; her son, Carleton Eddy Weatherby and his wife, Dorothy Stilwell Weatherby of Cashiers, NC; three granddaughters, Heather Edwards Blackmon and her husband, Bruce, of High Point, NC, and Ingrid Grace Weatherby and Vivian Ellen Weatherby, both of Cashiers, NC. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 6, 2008 in the Waynesville Chapel of Wells Funeral Home with Reverend Kelley Jones officiating. The family will receive friends from noon until 1:45 p.m. prior to the service. Burial will follow at Green Hill Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Mrs. Weatherby's nephews and great nephews. After the death of her husband, Carleton, Mrs. Weatherby established a scholarship at Haywood Community in Mr. Weatherby's name. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be given to continue this scholarship at 185 Freedlander Drive, Clyde, NC 28721 or to Haywood Regional Medical Center Hospice, 560 Leroy George Drive, Clyde, NC 28721. Mrs. Weatherby's children and granddaughters are eternally grateful for her devoted caregivers for over six years, especially Brenda Rathbone Carver, Barbara Carver, Amanda Carver, Jessica Carver, and "Lucille" and also to her faithful and devoted friend Amelia Leatherwood.

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