Willa May Young

Willa May was born on June 18, 1935, daughter of Archibald Lafayette and Olga Schneider Young. She was born in Kinston, NC, but shortly thereafter the family, including her older brother Fred, moved to Charlotte. After high school, Willa attended business school in Greensboro, NC. Following graduation, she moved back to Charlotte and began working at Travelers Insurance Company where she remained until her retirement in 1990.

Willa’s home away from home was Selwyn Avenue Presbyterian Church. At the age of twelve she was invited by a friend to attend church service there, which was located right around the corner from her house. She immediately fell in love with the church. Her father went to Caldwell Presbyterian Church, where he was a charter member. As the daughter of a Lutheran pastor, her mother was a member of the Lutheran church. But Willa May knew that this was her home, and with her independent streak, she shortly thereafter joined Selwyn Avenue Presbyterian Church on her own.

Willa May was a member of Selwyn Avenue Presbyterian Church for seventy-nine years. She was involved in much more than attending Sunday morning services. Willa taught Sunday school to young grade school age children for fifty years, was an active member of the evening women’s circle, helped with the annual Christmas pageants, and filled in as needed for the many activities in the church. Willa May loved music. She sang with the chancel choir for over sixty years, played in the handbell choir, and volunteered as the music librarian. In 2002, Willa was presented with the “Presbyterian Women Honorary Life Membership” award.

Her volunteerism extended outside of the church also. Willa spent more than twenty years as a volunteer helping families overcome financial hardship at the Crisis Assistance Ministry. She also volunteered every week at the Hospitality House, which provided lodging and support for families of patients traveling far from home for medical treatment.

Willa never married or had children of her own, but she doted on her two nieces from the moment they were born. She always had fun activities planned for their visits and joined them on the family vacations to the beach and mountains. She was an accomplished pianist and her after dinner serenades were enjoyed by all. Family history was very important to her, and she loved to share stories about her relatives – drama, comedy, romance – stories brought alive in the way she told them. Willa was devoted to her parents also. As her father succumbed to lung cancer, she and her mother cared for him at home. And after her mother became disabled, she took early retirement from her thirty-year career to stay at home and care for her.

Willa May began to slow down in her late eighties but her love for God, family, and friends remained steadfast. And this is how she would wish to be remembered. Although her family and friends will miss her, we have the peace and assurance that Willa is in the presence of our Lord and Savior.

Willa was preceded in death by her parents, Archibald and Olga Young, and her brother, Frederick Young (Mary). She is survived by her nieces, Karen Young of Altamonte Springs, FL, and Sheree Young Price (George) of Windermere, FL; great-niece Devon Price of New York City; great-nephew Mark Price of Boston, MA, and cousin Ellouise Schneider Roberts of Glendale, AZ.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Selwyn Avenue Presbyterian Church.

A memorial service will be held in the chapel at Selwyn Avenue Presbyterian Church, 2929 Selwyn Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28209. The date will be announced at a later time.