Rebecca Lee Staley

She was born to the late Mary Lee Staley Martian and Ralph Washington on March 23, 1943 in Hendersonville, NC.

Rebecca graduated from the historic, private Allen School in Asheville, NC, from there she attended Voorhess College (University) in Denmark, South Carolina. Rebecca Reared her family in Burke County. She devoted a lifetime of service to others. Rebecca dedicated her career to caring for individuals living with disabilities and mental health disorders. Rebecca retired with over 25 years of service at Broughton Hospital, where she worked as a Health Care Technician II. Additionally, prior to her extensive service and retirement at Broughton Hospital, Rebecca worked at the NC School of Deaf and then as a dedicated Nursing Assistant at Britthaven Nursing Home.

Rebecca's role of a lifetime was that of a loving mother to her son and daughter. Then a loving grandmother to her grandchildren. Rebecca was one of the first organizers of the John Thompson Homeless Shelter, located in Marion, NC, a shelter still in operation nearly 30 years later. She devoted countless hours to serving the community’s most vulnerable, the homeless, and coordinating fundraising efforts alongside her daughter to ensure the success of the mission alongside its founder, John Thompson.

Rebecca was a key investor and founder of her family’s charitable outreach initiatives. As a key supporter, her family opened the nation’s first black-owned international-trade Korean-based wig store. She then became a trustee of the not-for-profit division Standz of Care which provided carnival prosthesis serving cancer patients and individuals living with alopecia.

Her deep love for her grandchildren knew no bounds. She joined alongside her daughter in founding the homeschool academy, Nan’Ness Academy, assisting teaching and graduating both of her grandchildren and then eventually educating and graduating at-risk children from the community.

As a young woman, Rebecca studied classical piano. She fostered the love of music and the Arts in her children and then again in her grandchildren. SHe was the first founder of her grandchildren’s music non-profit, TW2 Inc., and The Scale Academy of Performing Arts. SHe was joined in that seed funding by Rev. Dr. William Barber III. Rebecca became an active administrator and a volunteer at the school, as it served hundreds of students from North Carolina to international exchange students from South America, CHina, and South Africa. Aiding in its notability, Rebecca joined her grandchildren when they performed for Pastor Shirley Cesar, for the historic Chavis Memorial Community Center Trailblazer Awards.

Rebecca became a founding member of the Whittington & Staley Consulting Group, a national conglomerate specializing in supporting communities in need across the Nation. Alongside her family, through their numerous charitable contributions and outreach work, they have directed millions of dollars to impacted communities across the South. Rebecca enjoyed traveling across the Nation with her family.

Rebecca’s love for her Heavenly Father, her quiet demeanor, her sweet smile, and her nature to give freely to others while looking for nothing in return have provided peace for her family. They are now left to cherish her memory, embracing and holding dear the endless sacrifices she made from them and the abundance of unconditional love she showered upon them.

Preceded in death by her son Darry Lamar Staley, left to cherish her memory are her daughter; Sanja Staley Whittington of the home, granddaughter; LaMeshia Whittington, and grandson Robert Whittington, Jr., of Fuquay Varina, and a host of family and friends.

A service of Love and Remembrance will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, December 21, 2022 in the Chapel of Kirksey Funeral Home of Morganton. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Mt. Herman A.M.E. Church.

Services will be live streamed on Kirksey Funeral Home and Cremation Service Facebook page.

The Family has entrusted Lea Funeral Home of Raleigh & Kirksey Funeral Home of Morganton with arrangements.