Mary King Kitchens, who filled her life with people, travel, good food, and the arts, passed away September 10, 2018. Her family and her wide circle of friends in Atlanta and across the world will miss her.
Mary was born in Ash, a farm community in southeastern North Carolina. After graduating high school, she moved to Charlotte to work for Southern Bell (later AT&T). Her intelligence and ability to work with people helped her advance in her career and to move to greater opportunity in Atlanta. Her roles spanned financial and administrative management as well as building management. It was at Southern Bell that she met Cyrus Marion “Kitch” Kitchens. They wed in 1972 and were married for 36 years.
Travel was an important part of her life and she saw many parts of the world, making new friends wherever she went. She was active in Atlanta’s Friendship Force, the Atlanta-Toulouse Sister City Committee, and other cross-cultural organizations. Travel broadened her scope and she enjoyed a wide variety of cultural interests including the theater, the symphony, opera, lectures on a wide variety of subjects, art, and others.
Many remember her culinary skills as a hostess, and she was known for popular dishes that she took to social events. Her favorite cuisine was good home-cooked Southern food, remembering the freshest of vegetables from her childhood on the farm. She had been raised in a family of excellent Southern cooks and never forgot how good food brought together family and friends. She also remembered her dear Grandma Lucy who, even during the Depression, would dress up cakes with whatever decoration was available. Over the years, her exposure to other cultures and cuisines also influenced her own approach to cooking, expanding her skills, but she never lost the passion for simple well-cooked food made with quality ingredients.
She had a very kind spirit and was deeply loved. She was friendly and welcoming, reaching out to help others, and enjoying the company of the friends she so easily collected because of her engaging personality. She will be missed by the many people whose lives she touched.
Mary was predeceased by her husband Kitch Kitchens, and sister Helen Inman and half-sister Nellie Rising, both of Shallotte, NC. She is survived by four nieces and nephews: Martha Inman Lorch (Doug) of Santa Barbara, CA; Tommy Inman (Bonnie) of Shallotte, NC; Stephanie Batson (Cal) of Shallotte, NC, and LaGrant Evans (Marilyn) of Terawa Terrace, NC.; also by two great nephews and two great nieces. She also leaves behind her goddaughter, Jennie Wiegand (Vic) of Cumming.
A memorial service will be held at 10:00 on Saturday, October 27 at Wieuca Road Baptist Church (in the chapel) in Atlanta. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org) or the Cancer Research Institute (www.cancerresearch.org).
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