Jesus came and took my Mother by the hand in the early morning of October 29, 2011. He said Marie I have a special place for you and the angels sang. I am sure Mom is very busy in Heaven, because she was always busy here on earth. She was active in church and local civic organizations. She was active in the American Cancer Society. A cancer survivor herself, she participated in many fund raising activities and received an award in July 2000 for her initiative to create the Greensboro "Swim for Cancer". She was active in local and regional affairs and held local and regional positions. She was the recipient of letters of appreciation from many organizations and political entities for her support and fund raising efforts. She was a Charter Member of a Presidential Task Force Committee and attended President George H.W. Bush's inaugural ball. In 2009, she had to decline an invitation to the inaugural festivities of President Obama due to health and the cold weather in Washington, D.C. In 1993, in a letter to a politician she suggested the need for a mobile medical unit for the homebound. Little did she know, she would be instrumental in this becoming a reality. Widowed in 1997, she went on a crusade to help the homebound and those in nursing homes. Because of these efforts, she was appointed by the Guilford County Board of County Commissioners to serve on the Nursing Home Community Committee. Later, she received the 2005 "Those Who Care" Award presented by WFMY-TV. She and my Father Carl were active in the Good Sam's Club, serving as State Representative for the National Good Sam's Campers Organization. Mom was past president of the Rainbow Chapter and instrumental in organizing the Mayberry Chapter of the Good Sam's Club.

Mom always said to me, "See you later alligator", so I say to you Mom, "See you later alligator". I know you are very busy in Heaven...