Mary Humphries

Mary Viola Atwood Humphries MONROE - Mary Viola Atwood Humphries, 86, died on Sunday, January 6, 2013. She is predeceased by her husband, Herbert Brooks Humphries, Sr. Born on May 5, 1926 in Winston Salem, N.C., she was the daughter of the late Edgar Wiley Atwood and Ethel Mable Blakeley Atwood. Since Mary was 28 years old, she has always actively served in the church. One of her most precious memories was working for many years with young people in the areas of teaching and missions. She has taught Sunday School for every age group, from nursery through adult. She also served as an ordained deacon of First Baptist Church, Monroe. Mary graduated from Grey High School in 1938 in Winston Salem, NC. She attended Winston Salem City Hospital Nursing School from 1938-1939. During World War II, she lived in Asheville, where she worked for Southern Bell Telephone Company. On a blind date, she met her future husband, and they were married a year or so later on December 31, 1945. Then three children later, the family moved to Monroe, N.C., where they reared their children. Mary is survived by her brother, James Ray Atwood of Hope Mills, N.C., her great aunt, Viola Williams of Winston Salem, N.C., her cousins, Betty Fowler of Conway, S.C. and Nancy Williams of Winston Salem, N.C., her children: Patricia Humphries-Bivens (husband, Laurence Bivens) of Lake Park, N.C., Deborah Shane (husband, Gary Shane) of Hartwell, Ga. and Herbert Brooks Humphries, Jr. (Burt), (wife, Jane W. Humphries) of Monroe, N.C.; seven grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. Mary and Herbert founded Monroe's Family Shoe Center in 1955. The business was Mary and Herb's home away from home. Fifty-five years later, it is still thriving as a legacy to their memory. Aside from her ministries at church and in the community, Mary volunteered for the American Red Cross, where she taught Home Nursing. Later as a registered Emergency Medical Technician, she was listed for emergency crisis situations. Mary also taught for Union Technical Institute in the area of adult education. She enjoyed writing poetry and reading, games and research on the computer and working in her yard. A Service of death and Resurrection will be held at 3:00 PM on Sunday, January 13th at First Baptist Church, Monroe, N.C. Visitation will be from 1:00 until 2:45. Memorials may be made to the Mary Atwood Humphries Memorial Fund at First Baptist Church, 109 E. Morrow Ave., Monroe, NC 28112. Gordon Funeral Service is caring for the Humphries family. Online condolences may be made at www.gordonfuneralservice.com Published in Charlotte Observer from January 8 to January 10, 2013.