Mary Ann Gregory Read

Mary Ann Gregory Read, 85, of Morganton, NC passed away with her daughters by her side on Thursday, April 30, 2015.  Born in Mecklenburg County, NC on May 30, 1929, she was the daughter of the late Jack D. Gregory and Mary Farris Ernst.  Mary Ann was active in the United Methodist Church since her early childhood and was a member of First United Methodist Church in Morganton.  She attended Southwestern University and the University of Miami where she studied Theology and became an active member of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority.   Mrs. Read met her husband (the late Major General William Edgar Read, U.S. Army retired) in 1952 in Washington, D.C. while working for the Department of Defense. As an Army wife, she traveled the world. She spent her time volunteering in thrift shops on military bases, the American Red Cross and the United Methodist Women. She was a gifted writer who was often published in various Women’s Clubs publications. She enjoyed books, shoes and loved her dogs!

Mrs. Read is survived by her daughters, Mary Virginia Hopkins and her husband, Gerard, of New Windsor, NY, Ann Kirby Weber and her husband, Andrew, of Pipersville, PA, and Sarah Read Fordice and her husband, Hunter, of Vicksburg, MS; grandsons, Gerard T. Hopkins, Jr. and his wife, Dolores, William Read Hopkins, Stephen Michael Hopkins, Andrew Joseph Weber, Robert Read Weber and his wife, Danielle; granddaughters, Hillary Ann Weber, Georgina Roxanne Weber, Lauren Virginia Fordice, Emily Louise Fordice, Helen Frances Fordice, and Sarah Hunter Fordice; great-grandchildren, Jackson Read and Ava Georgina Weber, Matthew Gerard and David Robert Hopkins; and her close friend and companion, J. Conley Mitchell.

In addition to her parents and husband, Mary was preceded in death by a brother, Jack D. Gregory, Jr.

The graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, May 4, 2015 at Forest Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Dr. John Fowler officiating.  The family will greet friends Monday afternoon from 1:00 until 3:00 p.m. in the Table Rock Room at the Grace Ridge Retirement Community.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Warrior Bonfire Project, P.O. Box 1398, Vicksburg, MS 39181.

Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.

The family would like to express their heart-felt gratitude for all the love and compassion the Grace Ridge nursing staff in the assisted living section provided their mom over the last several years.