Marianne (Niven) Belk

Mrs. Belk, formerly of Monroe, NC, and a resident of Plantation Estates in Matthews, died on July 27, 2012 following a period of declining health. Born March 31, 1928, she was the oldest of four children of Benjamin Franklin Niven and Mary Steele Niven. A native of Monroe, she was educated in the Monroe City Schools and graduated from UNC Greensboro. Her career included banking administration, court reporter, and, lastly, high school teacher at Forest Hills and Parkwood High Schools. She was a lifelong member of Central United Methodist Church and former President of United Methodist Women. She was an active member of Sorosis Book Club, Daughters of the American Revolution, and Daughters of the American Colonists, Waxhaws Chapter, where she served as Regent and Registrar. Her interests included her church, family history, and genealogy. She was a loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Funeral services will be held Sunday, July 29, 2012 at 3:00 PM at Central United Methodist Church in Monroe. The family will receive friends from 1:30 until 2:45 prior to the service in Central Hall at the church. Burial will follow in Lakeland Memorial Park. Mrs. Belk is survived by three children, Jim Belk and wife Eileen Belk of King, NC; Mary Kate Cline and husband Dale Cline of Charlotte, NC; David Belk and wife Lisa Belk of Charlotte, NC; a brother Benjamin Franklin Niven Jr., nine grandchildren; Elizabeth Belk Sullivan, John Andrew Belk, Matthew Jacob Cline, Sarah Ann Cline, Hannah Rachel Cline, Benjamin Allen Belk, Zachary Lawrence Belk, Nicholas David Belk, and Emma Caroline Belk, and two great grandchildren, Liam Alexander Sullivan and Beatrice Sophia Sullivan. Mrs. Belk was predeceased by her husband of 59 years, James Hazel Belk, a son, John Franklin Belk, a sister, Phyllis Niven Kendrick, and a brother, Malcolm Steele Niven. Memorials may be made to Central United Methodist Church 801 S. Hayne St., Monroe NC 28112 or the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 205 Regency Executive Park Dr., Suite 102, Charlotte, NC 28217. Gordon Funeral Service Crematory, 1904 Lancaster Ave., Monroe, NC 28112 is caring for the Belk family. Online condolences may be made at www.gordonfuneralservice.com Published online on July 27, 2012 courtesy of Gordon Funeral Service, Inc. .