Mary Cecile Ward White, 85, of Raleigh, North Carolina, formerly of Wilmington, NC, Allendale, NJ, and Bladenboro, NC, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday, November 4th, 2016. The funeral will be held at Bay Leaf Baptist Church at 11am Friday, November 11, 2016, with Pastor Will Gatling officiating. Burial services will be held at Pine Crest Cemetery in Bladenboro NC at 2pm Saturday, November 12, 2016 with Pastor Bert Young of the First Baptist Church of Bladenboro officiating.

She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Robert Allison White; her six children, Robert Allison White Jr. (Lee), Bernard Ward White, Mary White Kroszner (Konrad), Elizabeth White Horton (Richard), Rebecca White Tapp (Lloyd), Wade Edward White (Carol); twenty grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren; her brothers, John Ward (Lorraine), James Ward (Faye), and her sister Bess Ward Davis (Richard).

Cecile was born on January 3rd, 1931 in St. Matthews, South Carolina, and is preceded in death by her parents, Bernard O’Neill Ward and Thelma Cecile Prickett Ward.

She graduated from Bladenboro High School and attended Queens College, Meredith College and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Cecile lived a very full life. She taught elementary school, enjoyed volunteering in local nursing homes, and being a Girl Scout leader. She was also very involved in many churches, including numerous mission programs, teaching Sunday school, and singing in the choirs. She loved music, attending her children’s concerts, and playing the autoharp and piano. Cecile also loved being by the water, spending time with her children and grandchildren, both at the lake and the beach. She and Bob enjoyed their retirement years living at White Lake, and Wrightsville Beach, NC.

The family is very grateful to the many Visiting Angels who provided loving comfort and support. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Bay Leaf Baptist Church, Overseas Missions, 12200 Bayleaf Church Rd, Raleigh, NC 27614, or the Meredith College, Music Department, 3800 Hillsborough Street Raleigh, NC 27607-5298.