Martha "Marty" Abernethy Stanley

Martha (Marty) Abernethy Stanley died surrounded by her family on September 10, 2025. Born July 2, 1926 in Lincolnton, NC, she was the daughter of the late Thomas Clay and Mary B Crowell Abernethy. She was born in Lincoln Hospital which was founded by her grandfather, Dr. Lester Avant Crowell, Sr. The hospital was later named Gordon Crowell Memorial Hospital, in honor of Dr. Gordon Crowell, Dr. Lester Crowell’s oldest son who died in 1926.

Marty graduated from Duke University in 1947 and then in 1950 married Thomas E. Stanley of Marion SC. They were married at Myers Park United Methodist Church, where they were active members of the church and its Fellowship Sunday school class. They started their married life in Raleigh, NC where they lived for 20 years before moving to Charlotte in 1971. In Charlotte, Marty earned an associate degree in Medical Records Technology from Central Piedmont Community College. She was employed by Presbyterian Hospital in the Medical Records department and the Tumor Registry of Presbyterian’s Comprehensive Cancer Center, retiring in 1992.

In addition to her parents, Marty was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 66 years, Thomas E. Stanley, a son Thomas E. Stanley, Jr, a sister Jane A. Brewer, her twin sister Corinne A. Cole, and a niece Leslie Cole Payne Thomas. She is survived by a son, Robert C. Stanley and his wife Sara Stanley of Chapel Hill, NC, daughter Carolyn S. Perry and her husband Onney Perry of Rocky Mount, NC, and daughter Ellen S. Robbins and her husband Bucky Robbins of Hickory NC.

Also surviving are six grandchildren, Mary Allison Bobiak and husband Doug, Brian Lee and wife Andrea, Stephen Lee and wife Tiffany, Carolyn Lee, Clay Stanley and fiancée Alexandra Starks and Connor Stanley. She is also survived by four great- grandsons, Harrison and James Bobiak and Thomas and Calvin Lee, and one great-granddaughter, Harper Lee. Also surviving are many beloved nieces and nephews. In addition, she is survived by five step-grandchildren, Holli Robbins Patel, Drew Dettelbach, Alfred Perry, Lois Perry Bell, and Vickie Perry Dorn.

A memorial service will be held in the Francis Chapel at Myers Park United Methodist Church at 2:00 pm on Monday, September 15, 2025. Inurnment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center, DUMC, Box 3828, Durham NC, 27710.