Mary Tew Poteet Wooldridge

Mary Tew Poteet Wooldridge passed into the arms of her Heavenly Father on July 4th, 2016 in Cary, NC. “Tew” was born in Jacksonville FL in 1927 to Daniel J. Crowley, Sr. and Mary Elvira Tew. She left Florida to attend Carson-Newman College (University) in Jefferson City, TN. She was soon singing in the church choir and leading the band as a majorette. After graduation, she married her college sweetheart, Wallace E Poteet, a veteran and basketball player for Carson Newman. They raised 4 children while living in many places before settling in Raleigh, NC. Wallace died in 1974.

In 1977 Tew began a new chapter in her life when she married Oscar B Wooldridge, a veteran, a minister, and a chaplain at NC State. Together they lived in Raleigh and traveled by car, camper, air and ship before settling in Naples, FL, making new friends wherever they went. O. B. passed away in 2004, and Tew returned to Raleigh, where she was closer to family, reconnected with ‘old’ friends and made new ones. She resided at Magnolia Glen before moving to Sunrise of Cary. She reunited with her Hayes Barton Church family; she continued to enjoy Church services via television broadcast, when she could no longer physically attend.

Tew loved the ocean, gardening, cooking, bridge, entertaining and being with her family. She took up tennis at 50, thanks to O. B.’s passion, and enjoyed it for many years. She always enjoyed singing in the choir at church. We still remember many songs that were sung in the car and around the house. Tew was game for any family gathering and eagerly looked forward to the next one. Always the gracious lady, she had a big smile and happy attitude for all those who assisted her. She was known for her love of scarves, jewelry, and always looking her best.

Tew leaves behind her sister-in-law, Betty Ann Crowley of Jacksonville, FL. (Her brother, Daniel J. Crowley, Jr. is deceased.) She leaves behind her children: Donna Lawhorn (Jeff), Lynn Seyler (Bill), Mark Poteet (Lelia), and Jim Poteet (Bernice). She also leaves behind 4 step-children: Bob Wooldride (Cathy), Laura Rambo (David), Marty Younts (Tommy), and Jane Wooldridge-Glines (Stet). She has 13 Grandchildren (Jessica, Justin, Brian, David, Matt, Gabby, Rob, Kim, Clark, Cameron, Craig, Susan, and Brooke) and 14 Great-grandchildren (Orrin, Audie, Teagan, Hunter, Sarah, Eli, Bea, Max, Josie, Thomas, Bailey, Miles, Marcus, and Elijah). She also leaves behind many beloved nieces and nephews. In these last years, Tew really enjoyed the pictures and visits from the Great-grandchildren, who brightened her life. She was fortunate to still be close to her childhood friend, Barbara Voight, her college roommate, Betty Gay Blanc, and her special Sunday school friends, Doris and Jetta.

A Memorial Service will be held at Hayes Barton Baptist Church in the Chapel on Saturday, August 6th at 11 AM.

Thank you to Apex Funeral Home for their help in making final arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Transitions Life Care (Hospice) at 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607 or www.transitionslifecare.org. Online condolences may be made to [email protected].

A special thanks to Sara, Susan, Barbara, and Mary with Transitions Life Care. Thanks to the many caregivers at Sunrise, who helped her and made her smile during a trying time in her life. Tew and her family were truly blessed to have you in their lives.