Mary Lilly Rivenbark Mathews

She was born in Rose Hill, NC, June 28, 1927 to the late Claude Rivenbark and Fannie Jane Ezzell.

Mary Lilly graduated from Wallace-Rose Hill High School but remained close with her prior classmates in the Kenansville High School Class of ’44 and enjoyed their many class reunions throughout the years. She received both her BS and MA degrees from East Carolina University. Mary Lilly made a career as a public school teacher for various grades (Seventh Grade was a favorite!) in Duplin County. A highlight of her career was serving as coach for the Beulaville High School girls’ basketball team as they finished the season with a 24-4 record and defeated Calypso to win the County Championship in 1947. Mary Lilly retired from teaching for the State of North Carolina in 1980. She then accepted positions teaching for the Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DODDS) in Idar-Oberstein, West Germany (1980-82); Berlin, West Germany (1982-88); Naples, Italy (1989-92); Amberg, Germany (1997); and Osan, South Korea (1998-00). However, of all the places she visited during her life, her favorite spot was sitting in her sunroom overlooking the water on Topsail Island.

Mary Lilly was often recognized for her ability to identify the individual needs of each of her students and to tailor her instruction accordingly, treating each student with respect which motivated their desire to learn. She also took to heart her role as a representative of the United States when working abroad. In 2007 she was sponsored for formal induction into the East Carolina University Educators Hall of Fame by Mr. Walter Bostic, a 1966 ECU Pirate Football Honorable Mention All-American and former student. She was also later graciously recognized by members of Faith Harbor United Methodist Church in Surf City for her work teaching overseas.

In addition to her parents, Mary Lilly was preceded in her death by her husband, William Robert Mathews; her brother, Chapman “Bub” Rivenbark; and her sister, Garland Lee Carr. Survivors include her sons, Seaton Mathews of Raleigh, NC, Robert “Bob” Mathews and wife Renee’ of Richmond, VA, and Mike Mathews of Chapel Hill, NC; her sisters, Emily Wells of Wallace, NC, and Carolyn Brinkley of Wallace, NC; her brother-in-law Gerald Batts and wife Sharon of Hampstead, NC; and several nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held Saturday, February 6th from 6 – 8 pm at Andrews Mortuary, 17730 US-17 Hampstead, NC. A graveside service is scheduled for Sunday, February 7th at 2 pm at Devotional Gardens, 1260 NC Hwy 24/50, Warsaw, NC.

The family wishes to express its sincere appreciation to the many wonderful people who so thoughtfully included our mother in their lives. In her honor we ask that you continue to include and share your lives with the elder members of your communities. As Mary Lilly often said to her friends and family, “Your presence IS your present!”