Elaine White Gilbert

Elaine White Gilbert, 69, passed away, surrounded by her family, after a long and brave battle against cancer on Sunday, February 5, 2017. Elaine was born January 3, 1948 to William Robinette White and Ida Pauline Bell White in Statesville, NC. A graduate of Statesville High School, she attended Coker College in Hartsville, SC on academic scholarship.

Generous and exceedingly kind, Elaine was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother and a dedicated and loyal friend to many. Her greatest passion was her children and grandchildren but she continually supported her community as well. Elaine volunteered with the Ronald McDonald House of Eastern North Carolina, and was a faithful member of First United Methodist Church of Cary since 1987. She served for over 23 years in the Judicial branch of state government with both the NC Court of Appeals and the NC Supreme Court. Retiring in 2015, she was Executive Assistant to the Chief Justice of the NC Supreme Court.

Elaine is survived by her beloved husband of nearly 43 years, Victor Neely Gilbert; daughters Laura Gilbert Upchurch (Jay), of Chapel Hill; Virginia Gilbert Teachey (Ray), of Apex; sister Jean Bell White; and six grandchildren; James Maxwell Upchurch, Miller Lestrade Upchurch, Molly Bell Teachey, Meyer Wallace Upchurch, Paige Wells Teachey and Neely Frances Teachey. She is preceded in death by her mother, Polly and father, Bill.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 9 from 6:00pm – 8:00pm at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 200 SE Maynard Road, Cary. Funeral services will be held at First United Methodist Church, 117 S. Academy Street, Cary, Friday, February 10, 11:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, CB #7295 UNC-CH, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7295, https://unclineberger.org/waystohelp/giving/memorial-honor or Transitions LifeCare, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607, http://transitionslifecare.org/donate/learn-more-first/