She was born on a farm in the Apex-Cary area where she lived for most of her 95 years. She died on the property where she was born, which is now SearStone retirement community. Her parents were Walker S. Stone and Sara Judson Powell; her beautiful mom died when she was 11 years old. She attended Green Hope High School where she met the love of her life John Sears. She also attended UNC-G.
Maggie and John celebrated 77 years of marriage in September, and together they raised 5 children.
Maggie is survived by her husband John, her son William and wife Rita, son Tommy and wife Brenda, daughter Linda Suggs and husband Jack, and son Bruce and wife Beth. She is also survived by 7 grandchildren (Lisa, Tommy Jr., Denise, Emily, JohnDavid, Dana and Courtney) and 6 great-grand children (Melissa, Banks, Emery, Griffin, Taylor and Charlotte) who all adored their Mema and whom she loved dearly. Survivors also include her sister Elizabeth Watkins (Henry), half-sisters Ruth Haynes (Walter) and Sara Webster (Harry), and Margaret Stone (wife of half-brother Walker Stone). She was pre-deceased by her son Bobby and by his wife Brenda and by her granddaughter Brandy Lane Sears as well as half-brothers S. Walker Stone and Richard Stone and half-sister Mary Hord.
Maggie loved spending time with her family - at the beach, back-yard pig pickins’, holidays, Sunday night suppers, and other events. She and John also loved traveling and, after the children were grown, visited every state in the USA (including Hawaii and Alaska). Maggie also loved cooking for family and friends, gardening, and flowers, especially orchids. In later life, she became a skilled knitter and knitted countless toboggans to send to homeless shelters.
Maggie also loved her church. She and John were members of Good Hope for all 77 years of their marriage, and she served in many capacities, including WMU Director, leader of GA’s, vacation Bible school teacher and director, and Sunday School teacher. She especially enjoyed the fellowship meal on Wednesday nights and greatly missed not being able to attend regularly in her last years. She was very active in the Raleigh Baptist Association WMU where she served as a county director and also in the Wake County Extension Homemakers.
A memorial service will be held at 3:00 pm, Wednesday, November 7, 2018 in the sanctuary at Good Hope Baptist Church, 6628 Good Hope Church Rd., Cary, NC 27519. The family will receive friends preceding the service in the Family Life Center at Good Hope at 2:00 pm.
The family wishes to express deep appreciation to the skilled caregivers from Aware Senior Care and Transitions Life Care for their compassionate care.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to the building fund at Good Hope Baptist Church or Transitions Life Care (Hospice of Wake County).
