Grace Lucille Williams Neatherly

Grace Lucille Williams Neatherly, 83 of Morganton, NC died Sunday, January 1, 2006 at Autumn Care of Drexel. Born in Watauga County, NC on March 19, 1922, she was a daughter of the late Roy H. Williams, Sr. and Mattie Sue Isaacs Williams. Grace was a lifetime member of the Girl Scouts of America and was active in many leadership roles for the Catawba Valley Service Unit. She received the "Thanks Badge" from the Girl Scouts. Mrs. Neatherly was a member of the Glen Alpine Woman’s Club, the Morganton Garden Club, the Morganton Herb Club, and the Oak Hill Home Extension Club. She was actively involved with A.A.R.P. and was one of the original volunteer ushers with the City of Morganton Municipal Auditorium. She was a member of Mountain Grove United Methodist Church where she served on various committees and offices. She was an avid supporter of her husband’s work with Ruritan International at both the local and national level. Grace was a tireless gardener and herbalist, and a skilled craftswoman and artist who especially enjoyed flower arranging, painting, wreath making, and embroidery. She had volunteered for many years as a flower judge at the Burke County Fair and had herself won many blue ribbons at the fair for her baked goods. In 1998 she was recognized by the City of Morganton as Citizen of the Year. During her husband’s Air Force career, she was active in various N.C.O. wives clubs and service associations. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her infant son, Roy L. Neatherly, Jr.; a son, Phillip Wayne Neatherly; and brothers, James Williams, Robert Williams, and Roy H. Williams, Jr.

Surviving are her husband, U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt., Retired, Roy L. Neatherly; daughters, Constance Lee Neatherly Turner and her husband, Rev. Charles M. Turner, Jr. of Lewisville, NC, Dawn Neatherly Byrd and her husband, Gregory A. Byrd of Morganton; a daughter-in-law, Judy C. Neatherly of Ninevah, IN; grandchildren, Charles M. Turner, III, Christina M. Turner, Christopher L. Neatherly, Kerry N. Ritchie, and Daniel L. Neatherly; great granddaughters, Cassie and Lauren Ritchie; brothers, Paul Williams of Lancaster, VA and Johnny Williams of Richmond, VA; a sister, Elizabeth W. Walters of Morattico, VA; a number of nephews, nieces, and a tremendous family of the heart.

The funeral will be held at 3:00 p.m., Friday, January 6, 2006 in the Colonial Chapel of Sossoman Funeral Home with the Reverends Neal F. Brantley, Jr., Charles M. Turner, Jr. and W. F. McIntosh, Jr. officiating. Burial will follow in Mountain Grove United Methodist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Memorial gifts may be made to Mountain Grove United Methodist Church, 3624 Fish Hatchery Rd., Morganton, NC 28655, Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 1721 Enon Rd., Valdese, NC 28690, or to Girl Scouts of the Catawba Valley, 530 4th St., SW., Hickory, NC 28602.