Mary Catherine Prentice

Mary was born on December 3, 1948, in Ronceverte, West Virginia, to Thomas and Hester Fain Prentice. Mary attended Mountain State Baptist Academy in Alderson, WV, and Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley, WV, where she graduated in 1966. She graduated from West Virginia State College in 1970 with a BS Degree in Biology and a minor in Psychology. She also received a nursing degree from West Virginia Institute of Technology in 1973. She served as a registered nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Charleston Area Medical Center in Charleston, WV. Mary also worked at Beckley Appalachian Regional Hospital and Raleigh General Hospital in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. She received a master’s degree in psychology from the WV College of Graduate Studies in 1986. She served as a school psychologist for the Raleigh County Board of Education in Beckley, WV, until her retirement in 2009. She continued to perform contract work for the Board of Education for 15 more years.

Mary was a faithful member of Stanaford Road Baptist Church for many years, where she served as pianist and organist.

Mary is survived by her sister, Alice Jean Fleetwood; sister, Helen Marie Powell (Doug); sister, Margaret Prentice Grogan (Keith); brother, Timothy Alan Prentice; sister, Beverley Prentice; sister, Jeri Black; and sister, Stella Staley; nieces and nephews: Cindi Fleetwood, Philip Fleetwood, Nathan Powell (Amber), Sean Grogan, Matthew Prentice, Kristina Rivera (Marcus), and Shae Garcia; great nieces and nephews, Luke Mann, Jocelynn Garcia, Alaina Rivera, Landon Rivera, Hazel Powell, and Harrison Powell.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, brother Thomas Hamilton Prentice, and brother Douglas Wayne Prentice.

A Celebration of Life is planned for a later date, when family and friends can travel. Details will be posted and shared via the Blue Ridge Memorial website and Facebook page.

Mary was happiest when surrounded by her family. She loved learning and playing the game Scrabble (which she rarely lost). We, her family, will greatly miss her presence in our lives; however, as I Thessalonians 1:9 states, “…concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope” we know we will see her again!