Harriett Mentzer Whitsett left us March 11, 2019. She was a Charlotte native, born on September 18th, 1931. Harriett was a charter member of Covenant Presbyterian Church which formed when her first church, Second Presbyterian Church and Westminster merged. She was a Central High School graduate and attended Lenoir Rhyne College, graduating in 1951.
Harriett worked at Celanese Corporation and retired at the young age of 57. She enjoyed a wonderful life of traveling, chasing rare bird alerts all over the country. And she was not afraid to venture there by herself. She was known as an avid birder and had the patience to help all her friends and family in identifying various birds spotted in their yards. There were an awful lot of “Mutated Robins” around. As a lover of all animals, she loved horses and cats the best, with her favorite cat breed being Siamese. She liked them for their interaction with people, but we think she liked them because they were so mischievous! She later had a Persian cat who kept her company until the end. Harriett enjoyed horseback riding, showing horses at Meadowbrook Farms and Stables on Providence Road and the old Mecklenburg Hunt Club’s Show Grounds. She would also foxhunt with the hounds and enjoyed long wet trail rides with her beloved horse, “Apple”. She had traveled to Mexico to train at a riding academy where her fluency in Spanish was a big help. She kept us all captive in her great stories, like her mom setting off firecrackers in the fireplace, and cats that appeared in times of trouble then magically disappearing when the trouble passed.
Harriett had wonderful and exciting trips, like a ride on the Queen Mary Ocean-liner during a hurricane, and enjoying the coast with family and friends at Ocean Isle. A fervent Presbyterian, Harriett was a very compassionate woman. She was a caregiver to her mother until her last breath and once again to Paula Whitsett, her sister-in-law. Both found love and comfort in Harriett’s home on Middleton Drive. The Carriage Club was her home for the past three years where she enjoyed birding from her living room and making new friends there.
She leaves behind her niece, Holly Whitsett; nephews: Whit Whitsett (Sue); Paul Whitsett (Debbie); and Will Whitsett (Claire); not to mention ten great-nieces and nephews; eight great-great-nieces and nephews; and countless friends.
We will celebrate Harriett's life at Covenant Presbyterian Church on Friday, March 15th. Visitation will be at 10:00 am in the parlor, the service at 11:00 am in the chapel. There will be a graveside service at Elmwood Cemetery following.
Any donations may be made to the charity of your choice remembering Harriett's love for animals and nature.
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