Mary Frances Martin Haney

Mary Frances Martin Haney, 84, passed away May 30, 2015. A funeral service to celebrate her life will be at 11 AM, Wednesday, June 3, at Hanes-Lineberry N. Elm chapel with interment to follow at Westminster Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 10 AM prior to the service.

Frances was born in Radford, VA to the late Dewey Marvin and Anna Lois Spangler Martin. She retired in 1990 after many years as a statistician with the NC Department of Administration Office of State Construction and with the NC Department of Corrections. Frances was a member of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church where she helped with the bizarre for several years. At Fairlawn Presbyterian Church in Radford, she played the organ and piano. She was a woman of strong beliefs and faith of which she rarely spoke but instead let her actions speak for her. Her legacy will be one of service and caring for others. Her goodwill was evident when she volunteered with the hospital auxiliary in Greensboro, Smithfield and Raleigh, the association of Retarded Children for many years in Smithfield and for approximately 14 years she cared for families as a volunteer in the surgical waiting area of Wesley Long Hospital in Greensboro. She believed in the full potential of others and always had an encouraging thought and word for her family and people in need. She delighted in finding jobs for the unemployed and underemployed. Frances not only helped others meet their basic needs, but, if she could, went above and beyond to provide the best. She treated everyone equally and truly cared about the wellbeing of the people whose paths she crossed. Frances loved to entertain and cherished the time she spent with the “neighborhood ladies”, sharing food, stories and laughs. Always the organizer, her home was immaculately kept and everything had its place.

Although Frances loved others, her family came first. She was a supportive and wonderful wife and partner of 62 years to Edsel Lee Haney, and a loving mother to their daughter Karen. She treasured her grandchildren and left her family knowing of her love for them. She and Ed were rarely apart, loved to travel and spend time outdoors together. Age and illness slowed her down but she never complained about her circumstances.

Her husband, Ed of Stokesdale; daughter, Karen and husband Fred Patrick of Brown Summit; and grandchildren, Jason Patrick, Ian Patrick and wife, Erin and Nicole and husband Chi Kwong will cherish her memory; as will her brother Dewey Roger Martin of Hayes, VA.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the charity of choice. Online condolences may be made at www.haneslineberryfuneralhomes.com.