Anne Turlington Lay

Anne was born on February 18, 1932, in the Duke township of Harnett County, North Carolina. She grew up on her family’s farm at Turlington’s Crossroads between Erwin and Coats, where some of her sweetest childhood memories were made helping her father in his country store- selling hoop cheese, bottled Cokes, and penny candy.

Anne graduated from Erwin High School in 1950 and went on to attend Peace College for two years before continuing her studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. There, she earned her bachelor’s degree in social work, beginning a career of more than thirty years dedicated to supporting children and families. Her work was marked by deep compassion, patience, and an unwavering belief in helping others. She later retired to care for her beloved husband in his final years, a role she embraced with grace and devotion.

Faith and community were central to Anne’s life. She was an active member of Colonial Baptist Church in Cary, NC and cherished her involvement with the Widow’s Might ministry. She also enjoyed participating in neighborhood activities within the Troon community, always eager to encourage fellowship and connection.

She is survived by her daughter, Debbie Lay Rabon; her son, Jimmy Lay (Macee); and her grandchildren Mallory Rabon Vetter (Kurt) and Zachary Scott Rabon, all of whom she adored beyond measure.

Anne was preceded in death by her parents, Ila Ennis Green Turlington and Fred Angier Turlington, her loving husband of 45 years, James Freeman Lay, Jr., and her siblings, Sarah Catherine Womble of Lillington and Fred Angier Turlington of Tarboro.

To know Anne was to know joy, sparkle, and a bit of mischief. She loved her family dearly and was always up for a movie date with her grandchildren (along with a bucket of popcorn that they would finish before the movie started), eating out for dinner at Olive Garden and Red Lobster to celebrate special occasions, and anything related to Christmas, holidays, and birthdays. She cherished beach trips, butter pecan ice cream, and of course a Chick-Fil-A chicken sandwich with a sweet tea (a meal that brought her joy the 6 days of the week she could enjoy it). Anne was, in many ways, Santa Claus incarnate- delighting in decorating her home beautifully and selecting thoughtful gifts that reflected her generous heart.

Always dressed to impress, Anne was a skilled shopper and a natural bargain hunter, famous for her knack for finding the perfect item (and just as famously returning it later). She and her daughter Debbie could have medaled in Olympic Black Friday shopping, tackling 24-hour marathons fueled by Thanksgiving leftovers and the challenge of finding the perfect presents. But behind the fun and the frills was a woman whose generosity ran far deeper than the gifts she wrapped. Anne brought thoughtfulness, joy, and a touch of sparkle into every room she entered, reminding those around her that life was meant to be celebrated- and that love was best expressed through time, attention, and the small, meaningful things she did for the people she cherished.

The family would like to thank Caroline Nnanna and Lakepark Family Care Home for the compassionate care they provided Anne over the past year and a half. Deep appreciation is also extended to Transitions LifeCare for their support in her final days, as well as the devoted staff at Waltonwood Lake Boone and Lakepark Family Care Home, who cared for Anne over the past seven years during her journey with dementia.

Family and friends are invited to attend an intimate graveside service at Harnett County Devotional Gardens, where she will be laid to rest near family that she’s reuniting with in heaven. The Graveside Service will be held on Friday, November 28, 2025, at 1:00pm at Harnett Devotional Gardens, located at 5665 Fairground Road, Dunn, NC, 28334.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Transitions LifeCare, Lakepark Family Care Home, or to the Dementia Alliance, by using the links below, under 'Donations'.

If you would like to leave a favorite memory / story of Anne, or a message of condolence for her family, you may do so below, within 'Add a Memory'.