Margaret Sloan Pursley

Margaret Edwards Pursley, 97, died Friday, February 25, 2011 at Glenaire Retirement Community in Cary following a brief illness. She was born in Gastonia, NC on May 20, 1913, and lived there until moving to Cary in 2000. She was the daughter of the late Robert Walter and Annie L. Edwards. She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years Wideman Knox Pursley and by brothers Erskine Edwards, Lyle Edwards, and Robert Edwards.

She is survived by daughter Angela Smail and husband Tom of Annapolis, MD; son Walter Pursley and wife Karen of Raleigh; grandsons Paul Smail and wife Erin of Baltimore, MD and Tom Smail, Jr. and wife Haelim of Annapolis, MD; great-grandson Owen Smail of Baltimore; sister Jean Jackson of Clover, SC; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was a lifelong member of the First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Gastonia where she served as a choir member and Sunday School teacher. She taught English in the Gaston County Schools for over 30 years. Margaret was an avid horticulturist and had beautiful daylily gardens in both Gastonia and Cary. Throughout her life she enjoyed music as a pianist, organist and as a member of several choral societies.

Visitation will be Friday evening March 4 from 7:00-9:00 at Carothers Funeral Home, Gastonia. Burial will be at Hollywood Cemetery in Gastonia at 11:00 AM on Saturday, March 5.

The family would like to express their thanks to all the caregivers and staff at Glenaire, Hospice of Wake County, and the medical practice of Dr. James Womble.

Memorials may be made to the Glenaire Foundation, 4000 Glenaire Circle, Cary, NC 27511; to Hospice of Wake County, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607; to Erskine College, Due West, SC 29639 or to the First A.R.P. Church, 317 S Chester Street, Gastonia, NC 29639.

Condolences and fond memories may be offered at www.brownwynnecary.com