Mary Ann Fisher Enloe

Mary Ann Fisher Enloe, former mayor of Hazelwood and former Haywood County Commissioner, died April 13th at Autumn Care of Waynesville after a period of declining health.

Born in the old Haywood County Hospital November 9, 1940, she was the daughter of the late Mayor Clyde L. "Dutch" Fisher of Hazelwood and his wife Mary Quince Poteate Fisher.

Mary Ann graduated in 1958 from Waynesville Township High School where she was in marching band, jazz band and concert band. She studied concert harp at Converse College and played the harp in the W.T.H.S. orchestra. She served as piano and organ accompanist for the chorus. She also served on the newspaper and yearbook staffs.

Mary Ann was a lifelong Methodist and began playing the piano for Sunday School at the age of ten. She was Methodist Youth Fellowship pianist and played the tower chimes on Sunday mornings. She sang in the children's and youth choirs and began substituting as church organist at the age of 16. She played the organ for her own high school graduation ceremonies at Stuart Auditorium in 1958 and for her daughter Libby's graduation there in 1989.

Mary Ann attended Brevard College, the alma mater of her mother and later her daughter.

She began her career as executive secretary to the manager of the purchasing department with Dayco Corporation and worked her way up to senior purchasing agent, the first woman in the corporation to hold that position. She appeared in print ads for the corporation and wrote for the company newspaper. During that time, Mary Ann also did runway modeling for area businesses where she organized and emceed fashion shows.

At the age of 30 she married Jack Hamilton Enloe, with whom she had a daughter Mary Ann Elizabeth "Libby" Enloe of Winston-Salem who survives her. Jack Enloe died of a heart attack in 1977. Later that year Mary Ann was named the "Woman of the Year" by the Business and Professional Women's Club and was appointed by Waynesville's mayor to the original board of directors of the newly formed Haywood County Arts Council, the predecessor of HART. In the 1970’s, she was also active in the American Cancer Society and was responsible for coordinating several fundraising efforts for ACS in Haywood County.

During the 1980's Mary Ann was a part-time fashion buyer for the John Carroll store in Asheville. She also wrote and illustrated newspaper ads for the store. She was also an accomplished artist and enjoyed oil painting in her spare time.

Always interested in theater, Mary Ann appeared in "The Miracle Worker" at Thomas Wolfe Theater and in several plays produced by the Haywood Council Arts Council. She performed with combined choirs at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, and participated in two European concert tours with the Smoky Mountain Chorale.

Mary Ann was organist and choir director for 15 years at Dellwood United Methodist Church, 16 years at Crabtree United Methodist Church and five years at St. Andrews-on-the-Hill Episcopal Church in Canton. In later years, she was pianist and choir director at Faith United Methodist Church, and ended her long musical career as organist at Bethel United Methodist.

In retirement, Mary Ann returned to an early interest--writing--and was a correspondent for the Waynesville Mountaineer and the Biltmore Beacon. She held White House press credentials and covered President Barack Obama's visits to Asheville. Mary Ann maintained her interest in classical music and developed a deep love for traditional mountain music, often seen on the front row of area bluegrass shows. Her friendships with area musicians were of utmost importance to her in her later years, and she enjoyed writing newspaper articles about mountain music and musicians.

In addition to being the first woman mayor of Hazelwood and a Haywood County commissioner, Mary Ann served on the boards of directors of the Haywood County Arts Council, the NC Association of County Commissioners, the NC Division of the American Cancer Society, the governor's Smart Growth task force, the regional Smoky Mountain Mental Health board, the Haywood County Fairgrounds, the Salvation Army, Mountain Projects, PlottFest and the Folkmoot Capital Projects committee which is in the process of transforming the historic Hazelwood School into a community center. She served as chairman of Haywood Community College Board of Trustees where she championed the construction of the Emergency Services Training Facility. She was chairman of Haywood County's Bicentennial celebration in 2008 and was instrumental in seeing the need for and obtaining funds for the writing of what would become an award-winning county history book.

Mary Ann was a registered Democrat and worked hard for Democratic candidates and Democratic causes. She narrowly lost a bid for the NC House of Representatives in 2000.

In addition to her daughter Libby and Libby's wife Amanda Adams Enloe, Mary Ann is survived by her step-son Sam "Bo" Enloe of Waynesville, brother-in-law Charles Phillips, nieces Bonnie Upright, Beth Blevins, Melissa Enloe Walter, Trudy Enloe and Jennifer Enloe and nephews Scott Phillips and Andy Blevins, and several cousins. Also surviving her are several great nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by sisters Emily DeBrayda Fisher Phillips and Elizabeth Clyde Fisher Hargett.

Her daughter Libby would like to express special thanks to her uncle Charles Philips and her mother’s very special friends Jack Nichols, Cindy Messer, the staff at Autumn Care, Haywood County Hospice and the Haywood County EMS department for their care and attention during Mary Ann’s later years.

Graveside Services will be held at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, April 23, at Green Hill Cemetery. A celebration of Mary Ann's life will be held at a later date.

The family respectfully asks that instead of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the charity of your choice.

Garrett Funeral Home of Waynesville is assisting Mary Ann's family. www.garrettfuneralsandcremations.com