Gretchen Fanney Wyatt

Gretchen Fanney Wyatt died Tuesday January 6, 2015 at Well Spring Retirement Community in Greensboro. A service of worship and gratitude will be held Friday January 9th at 2:00 pm at Well Spring. Interment will be in Scotland Neck, North Carolina.

Gretchen was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina on October 31, 1921 to Juanita Privette Fanney and Grafton Clinton Fanney of Spring Hope. She graduated from high school in Scotland Neck, and in 1942, from Meredith College. In 1943 she married John Wyatt of Hobgood, North Carolina, who was then a lieutenant in the United States Navy.

In 1946 the couple moved to Greensboro where Gretchen became active in public schools, civic affairs and the First Presbyterian Church. She and her husband moved to Charlotte in 1970 and upon his retirement, to Morehead City, North Carolina, where he died in 1987.

While primarily a homemaker, Gretchen taught briefly in public schools in Charlotte, Raleigh and Scotland Neck. She engaged in the sale of real estate in Morehead City where she was active in the First Presbyterian Church. In 2003 she returned to Greensboro to live at Well Spring Retirement Community.

Gretchen lived an active, faithful and full life centered on her family and many friends. She shared with her children her love of art and music, and concern for others. She was a life elder in the Presbyterian Church and former president of the Friends of the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort.

She was predeceased by her parents, her husband and a brother, Josef Fanney and wife Mary Ann of Scotland Neck and Hillsboro. Surviving are her children, John Clinton Wyatt and wife Patsy of Charlotte, Suzanne Higgins and former husband John of Greensboro, and Barbara Jeffries and husband Sam of Raleigh; her brother Grafton Clinton Fanney, M.D. and wife Elayne of Bonita Springs, Florida; four granddaughters, Elizabeth Wyatt Higgins, Anna Gretchen Wyatt, Rachel Wyatt Higgins, and Mary Macie Wyatt; and two nieces and four nephews.

She and her family are especially grateful for the care she received at Well Spring during her illness. The family also wishes to thank Hospice of Greensboro for their care.

Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one’s choice.

Online condolences may be made at www.haneslineberryfuneralhomes.com