Cumming, GA – Mary Lance Van Every Sisk, age 75, died peacefully in her sleep on February 9, 2012. A passionate community advocate, evangelist, author, mentor, gracious hostess and championship golfer, Mary Lance is best remembered as a servant of God who was an uplifting inspiration to family and friends.
Born September 26, 1936 in Charlotte, Mary Lance was the daughter of her late parents Philip Lance Van Every and Carolyn Quincy Johnson. She was a 1954 graduate of Myers Park High School and attended Duke University. She was married to her beloved husband, the late Bob Sisk, for 54 years.
Mary Lance traveled throughout the world as a prayer leader and teacher of the art of friendship evangelism. She authored the booklet “Love Your Neighbor” which has been used worldwide and translated into many languages including Spanish, Arabic, French, Chinese and Croatian.
Mary Lance served on the Board of Directors of the Mission America Coalition, Joni and Friends, and Aglow International; on the National Leadership Team for Lydia Fellowship; and was a member of the United States National Prayer Committee. Mary Lance and her husband founded the Metrolina Prayer Network and, with eight other women, she founded Second Fridays for Praying Women for Charlotte. She also served on the Executive Committee of The CoMission and was one of the Vice Chairmen for the 1996 Carolinas Billy Graham Crusade. She actively supported The Salvation Army and was a past editor of the Junior League’s “The Crier” magazine.
Many of her peers will recall Mary Lance’s love for the game of golf. She was the long time holder of the women’s course record at Charlotte Country Club, played on the Carolinas golf team, and played as an amateur in the U.S. Women’s Open Championship.
Mary Lance is survived by two sisters, Anne Van Every Glenn (Tom) of Debordieu, SC and Diana Hamilton Van Every of Statesville, NC; her son, Robert V. Sisk, Jr. (Jess) of Advance, NC; three daughters: Mary Lance McGinn (Dan) of Marvin, NC, Lindsay Monaghan (Bob) of Raleigh, NC and Carolyn Williams (Jim) of Cumming, GA; nine grandchildren, two step-grandchildren; and two great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert V. Sisk; a sister, Carolyn Van Every Foil; and one son, Philip Van Every Sisk.
There will be a memorial service at St. Giles Presbyterian Church, 2027 Emerywood Drive in Charlotte at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, February 13 with a reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to either The Salvation Army, 4335 Stuart Andrew Boulevard, Suite 120, Charlotte, NC, 28217 or Wellspring Living, 140 Howell Road, Suite C-2, Tyrone, GA, 30290. The family is being served by Harry & Bryant Company.
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