Mary Cathryne Grubbs

Mary Cathryne (Nanny) Grubbs, known for her hats and hugs, passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday, September 25, 2014. She was born in New Bern to Will and Grace Holland on November 30, 1919. She graduated from New Bern High School, and then worked at H.S. Kress, where she met husband D.B.(Mac) Grubbs from Winston-Salem. They married on June 2, 1940, and moved to Wilmington, where daughter Mary Bryan was born in April, 1941. They settled in Raleigh in 1944 and begun a lifelong devotion to Trinity United Methodist Church. They founded the MYF Youth Program, taught Sunday school, and chaired communities. In 1947, she was employed by Bynum Printing and in 1955, the NC First Insurance Rating Bureau. She became a grandmother in 1961 with the birth of Mary Bryan’s daughter, Pat, and in 1963, grandson Dave. She traveled the US including Hawaii, Alaska, and 13 countries. The most memorable, along with member of Trinity, visited the Holy Land. She served 10 years as secretary for the Tuesday & Friday Owls Fairlane Bowling League. A member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Chapter #295, she served as Worthy Matron, and a volunteer and medal contender for Senior Games. A dedicated member of the Original Whitaker Mill Senior Center, she helped found the Young at Heart Club. She was very instrumental and lobbied for the new facility and attended the Five Points Center for Active Adults opening ceremony. Her husband of 55 years passed in November of 1995. In September of 1996, she became a great grandmother with the birth of Dakota.

She was preceded in death by husband, Mac, brother, Frank Holland, and sister, Dorothy Killian. She is survived by daughter Mary Bryan Humphreys (Paul), granddaughter, Pat Vandawalker (Larry), grandson, Dave Ball (Donna), great grandson, Dakota Vandawalker, nieces, nephews, friends, and caregiver, Joyce Cotton.

Services will be held on Wednesday, October 1 at Trinity United Methodist Church, 824 N. Bloodworth St, Raleigh. Visitation will begin at 11:00am, with the funeral starting at 12:00pm. Burial will follow at Brier Creek Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Trinity Church, The Shriners Hospital for Children, or Transitions Life Care. Condolences may be made online at www.mitchellatrmp.com.