Mary Carson Jones Pease

Mary Carson Jones Pease, 91, of Charlotte, died peacefully at her home on Sunday, July 14, 2013. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, July 22 at Myers Park Presbyterian Church, with a reception immediately following in the church fellowship hall.

Mary Carson was born in Charlotte on February 20, 1922, the daughter of the late Mary Carson Jones and Eddie E. Jones of Charlotte. She was educated in the Charlotte public schools, graduating from Central High School. She attended Converse College for two years and afterward attended Carolina Business School in Charlotte.

She married her beloved husband, James Norman Pease, Jr., in 1943, who preceded her in death in January 2009. She is survived by her sons, James Norman Pease III and wife Sidney Walker Pease of Atlanta, GA, and Edwin Jones Pease and wife Emily Wheatley Pease of Williamsburg, VA; her daughter, Mary Carson Pease and partner Sandra Jean Evans of Mineral Bluff, GA; and grandchildren, James (“Jay”) Norman Pease IV and wife Catherine of Mt. Pleasant, SC, Joshua Walker Pease and wife Meg of Atlanta, GA, Lillian Swetenburg Pease of Brooklyn, NY, Mae Pease Shaw and husband Derek of Philadelphia, PA, and Edwin Hunter Pease of Richmond, VA; also great-granddaughters, Darby and Carson Pease of Mt. Pleasant, SC. She is also survived by her brother, Freeman R. Jones and wife Helen of Greensboro, NC, and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brother, Eddie E. Jones, Jr. of Charlotte.

Mary Carson was profoundly devoted to her church, and was a lifetime member of Myers Park Presbyterian Church, where she served in numerous capacities, including Sunday school teacher, Girl Scout leader and as a Stephen Minister. She held the positions of deacon and elder, and was a past president of the Women of the Church. She was involved in a tutoring program at Siegle Avenue Presbyterian Church, a program she thoroughly enjoyed for several years.

She served her community in countless ways, including serving on the boards of the former Charlotte Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, the Florence Crittenton Home and the Friendship Trays organization, where she supervised the delivery of meals to shut-ins. She was a sustaining member of the Charlotte Junior League.

The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude to Mary Carson’s loyal caregivers, Corinthia Pauling, Marion Clark and Nettie Jankee, for their wonderful care and continuing devotion over the past several years.

Mary Carson leaves a legacy of supreme kindness, genuine goodness and an honest selflessness that endeared her to all who knew her. She was totally devoted to her husband and family, and continually strived to do whatever she could to ease the suffering of those in need. “Carsie always saw the innate goodness in everyone”, reminisced daughter-in-law, Sidney Pease. “In the fifty years I knew her, I never heard her speak an unkind word about anyone.”

In lieu of flowers, Mary Carson has requested memorials be sent to: The Mary C. Jones and Eddie E. Jones Scholarship Fund, Union Theological Seminary & Presbyterian School of Christian Education, 3401 Brook Road, Richmond, VA 23227; the J. Norman Pease, Jr. Scholarship Fund, UNCC Foundation, 9201 University City Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28223; Myers Park Presbyterian Church, 2501 Oxford Place, Charlotte, NC 28207; or to the charity of choice.