Mary Bess Lawing

1937-2025

Mary Bess Lawing, age 87, passed away on Sunday, April 6, 2025, at Catawba Valley Medical Center. Born in Newton, NC, on November 14, 1937, she was the daughter of the late Lester Raymer Lawing and Ruth Mae Burgess Lawing. Mary Bess was a 1956 graduate of Newton-Conover High School and received certification from Lenoir-Rhyne College as an executive/legal secretary. Her career began in the law office of Wade Lefler and Charles Gordon, which evolved over the years with retirements along with the additions of Lewis Waddell, Robert Mullinax, and Bill Childs. She remained loyal to the same law firm until 1996 when she began working as an executive assistant at Elliott Design and as an independent paralegal until her retirement in 2019.

Mary Bess was fully devoted to her family and lifelong friends and loved to share in their many celebrations. Her other passion was the City of Newton. She was the heart of Newton and a trailblazer for many years. She became the first female member of the Newton City Council in 1977 serving for about 38 years, was the first woman to be the Mayor Pro Tem of the City Council, and was the first female to run for mayor. She was a board member of the NC League of Municipalities and the Western Piedmont Council of Governments. She was the first woman to become a member of the Newton Kiwanis Club and served as president for much of her tenure. She served on numerous other boards and committees through her role as a council member and through other volunteer work.

Mary Bess was a lifelong member of First United Methodist Church in Newton where she served on every possible church committee and board. Her most rewarding position was managing the nursery and children’s Sunday School program. Though she had no children of her own, she formed lifelong relationships there with children who considered her a second mother.

In her spare time, she was known for riding around town in her Buick with a custom “MBLawing” license tag and with her dog in the passenger seat. She enjoyed visiting the mountains, the beach, and Williamsburg, but most of all, she loved traveling with her family wherever they planned to go. She was a strong advocate for women’s rights and voted in every election since 1966. She loved fine dining, made the best deviled eggs, never turned down dessert, loved chocolate, and loved to go shopping. She was notorious for being late to everything but always showed up with a smile.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Doris McNeil Lawing Elliott, brother-in-law, Robert Thomas (Tom) Elliott, Jr., sister, Billie Moore Lawing Levan, brother, John Robert Lawing, sister-in-law, Peggy Lawing, and nephew, Robert David Levan.

Left to cherish her memory are her nieces, Rebecca Ruth Elliott Stiver (John) of Newton, Doris Kay Levan of Concord, Sandra Levan Spach (Larry) of Charlotte, nephew, Tim S Elliott of Denver, and friend, Tim Leithner of Denver.

Others are special grandniece, Jennifer Marie Stiver of Newton, grandnephew, Mark Elliott Stiver (Magdalyn) of Greensboro and great-grandnieces Lila Louise Stiver and Quinn Alexandra Stiver of Greensboro.

She is also survived by special cousins, Nancy Burgess and Carleen Burgess Jarrett, and her beloved dog, Bailey Bob.

A service of remembrance will be held on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Newton, NC, with Reverend Josh Sherfey officiating. Burial will follow at Eastview Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 10:00 to 11:15 a.m. in the Welcome Center at the church.

Serving as pallbearers are John Cilley, Todd Clark, Adge Hudson, BJ Mullinax, William Smith, and Mike Waddell.

Attendees are requested to wear pastel colors.

Memorial contributions can be made to First United Methodist Church, PO Box 926, Newton, NC 28658 or the Downtown Newton Development Association, PO Box 550, Newton, NC 28658.