Mrs. Mary Carpenter, May 8, 1934 - July 4, 2024
Mary Deloris Wood Carpenter was the seventh child and youngest daughter out of ten children born to Thurman and Lula Wood. She was born and raised in Big Stone Gap, Virginia. At eight years old, she was baptized at First Baptist Church on Wood Avenue by Rev. A.S. Mitchell. She attended James Bland High School and graduated in June 1954. She then attended and completed one year at Swift Memorial Junior College.
She worked at North Electric and Strolee companies, where she made many friends because she never met a stranger. She joined Central Baptist Church and was loved by all who knew her. She had a beautiful tenor voice. She was a devoted choir member who had a personal strut when the choir marched in to sing. She could be seen from the choir stand doing her sign language to someone sitting in the pews saying, "I love you." Even at age 90, she remained active in the choir until God called her home. She loved her church family, and sometimes the Lord would put someone on her heart to call and sing, "I just called to say I love you." Everyone was either "little boy," "little girl," or "the shot."
Mary was a woman of many talents. Her love of painting ceramics can be seen throughout her home. She also loved candles and had many, many different beautiful plants! She was the Matriarch of her family and loved family gatherings where sometimes she'd show her dance moves. She was also a wonderful poet; most of her poems were to her siblings who went before her.
Some of her favorite sayings were: "Hi darling!" If one of her grandchildren or children were leaving for a trip, she would say, "You better get on the road before it gets dark." If you were discussing something with her, she would look at you and say, "Be real," when she was troubled about anything, she would say, "Merciful Father." She knew who to call on! She had an unfathomable devotion to her family. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Thurman and Lula Wood; husband, Aubrey Carpenter, Sr.; sisters, Mabel, Dorothy, Ruth, Gloria Ann, Doris, and Billie Sue; brothers, Wayne, Eugene, and Clinton; children, Jeffery, Ronald, and Angela; and one grandson.
She is survived by her son, Aubrey (Tobey) Carpenter Jr.; daughters, Donna (Raymond) Bowers and Erika Carpenter; 15 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildrens, three great-great grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins; a special friend, Mary Burns; two church sisters, Mrs. Betsy Ann Pierce and Mrs. Frances Graves; two church sons, Donald Davenport and Melvin Drumgoole; as well as a host of many, many friends.
Visitation for Mary Carpenter will be Monday, July 15, 2024 from 11 AM to 12 Noon at the Central Baptist Church, 301 Carver Street, Kingsport. The service will follow at 12 Noon. Interment will be at the Oak Hill Cemetery.
The family is served by the R. A. Clark Funeral Chapel and Cremation Service, Inc., 802-806 East Sevier Avenue, Kingsport.
