Mary Elizabeth Capps Bakis

Born June 8, 1934 in Lexington, South Carolina later moving to Charlotte. “Lib” was the oldest of 3 children in her family and graduated Harding High School Class of 1952’. Later married and had 2 sons. She was a stay at home mom raising her boys in East Charlotte. She enjoyed weekends and summers at the family’s beach house in Garden City, South Carolina where several other Charlotte families also spent their summers as well. She was involved with sewing and crafts in several community organizations during this time as well. In the late 70s after a divorce and still raising the 2 boys she entered the workforce with First Union National Bank in the EFS (electronic funds transfer) division. During this time she was among a hand full of people doing what would later become 24 hour banking atm research. With this service she was also part of a team that helped bring about a networking system which would allow you to use your bank card at other banks as well called the “RELAY” system.

She also moonlighted for years at Mel Jackson Income Tax Service and at the end of each season 4/15/(any year) the girls would head to Joyce Gladden's place at the beach for a week of sun and fun!

During her time with First Union (Wachovia and later Wells Fargo), she joined an organization that she was very proud of called The American Business Women’s Association or (ABWA.) She was an esteemed member of the organization and served as Treasurer. She was eventually nominated as “Woman Of The Year.” In her later years Lib retired but loved making clothes and trinkets for children including her grandchildren. She also became a devoted member of the Central United Methodist Church in Charlotte. In the church she made blankets and Christmas stockings for the soldiers that were and are deployed.

She taught us many things in life. She taught how to love and also how to be loved. She proved that it is better to give than to receive. She taught us that compassion requires conscious awareness and that you don’t know what people are going through. She taught us that we are responsible for our own actions. She also proved that she loved unconditionally no matter my circumstances. She always provided no matter how hard times were. One of our friends noted this “your momma always made sure there were groceries in the house and the lights were always on.” …Randy Atwell

She always gave from her whole heart. She was compassionate, considerate, and selfless.

She was many more things to a lot of people in this world and she has left an indelible mark in all of our lives. She was preceded in death by her Father Frank Walker Capps Sr; her mother Alice Nadine Funchess Capps. She leaves behind 2 siblings a brother Frank Capps of Charlotte, NC; and a sister Dianne Capps Beam of Huntersville, NC; 2 sons Chris Bakis of Charlotte, NC; Jamie Bakis of Point Harbor, NC; 2 grandchildren Nick Bakis (Lauren) of Stanley, NC; Stephanie Fish (Chris) of Newton, NC.

May her memory be eternal…

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from 12:00pm until 1:00pm on Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at Central United Methodist Church, 6030 Albemarle Road in Charlotte.

The funeral service is to be conducted at 1:00pm, immediately following the visitation, at Central United Methodist Church.

The burial will follow, via an escorted cortege, at Forest Lawn West Cemetery in Charlotte.