She was born in Norfolk, Virginia on September 16, 1921 to Leon Virginius Gilbert, Sr. and Maude Gerloff Gilbert.
Mom, as she was known to all, played amongst the gravestones as a young girl in St Mary's Cemetery where her family lived and her father was caretaker. She had a horse named Janie. After high school, Mom attended Miss Johnson's business school at the insistence of her father as a back up plan in case she married somebody who, in his words, was "no damn good". She was employed at Rixey & Rixey law firm in Virginia before her marriage. After marriage to S. Peyton Cason, there was never a need for the back up plan.
Mom and Daddy moved to Raleigh, NC in 1949 where the last four of their six children were born. They always had a lively and fun household beginning with their first home on Peebles Street which was the first new building development in Raleigh since WW II. Mom had a great sense of style and took joy in her grandchildren. She was rarely seen without her favorite MAC hot pink lipstick Candy Yum-Yum.
She was preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, brothers Leon Jr. and John, eldest son Samuel Peyton Cason III, and by her beloved husband of 53 years, Samuel Peyton Cason, Jr.
She is survived by her children Susan (Mrs. Gary Jones) of San Diego, CA, Carl (Karen), Gloria Jan (Mrs. John Harman, Sr.), Candace (Mrs. Clifford Reeves), all of Raleigh, NC and Christopher (Barbara) of Elkin, NC as well as 13 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
The family will receive friends from 7pm-8pm in the chapel of Brown-Wynne Funeral Home. A prayer service will follow beginning at 8pm.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 501 Saint Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Arrangements by Brown-Wynne, 300 Saint Mary's Street, Raleigh, North Carolina 27605.
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St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital501 Saint Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105
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