Mary Elizabeth Walker

                    The Mom who could light up the world with her smile and love has gone to be with her Lord and Savior. Mary Elizabeth Rivenbark Walker, 92, of Wilmington N.C. passed away January 18, 2026, at Cypress Pointe Rehabilitation Center.                        

                    Our Mom was born May 24, 1933 in Wayne County N.C., to the late Kearney and Lela Lee Rivenbark.

                    Our Mom grew up with a humble father and praying mother. Mom used to say her mother would be praying for her family at all times of the day and night and thankfully Mom took after her with praying for her loved ones. Our Mom had eight brothers and sisters who were all predeceased before her. Her oldest sister Annie Virginia died before Mom was born at three years old. Mom’s other siblings were Elwood, Billy, Bobby Ray, Jimmy, Dan, Ann, and Ronnie.

                    Mom grew up in a very simple and humble life; a life most people today would call poor. She grew up in Mount Olive, N.C., pickle country. Her father worked for the city and drove log trucks and her mother stayed home raising her children. Growing up back then was very hard and many times they struggled to have enough to eat, clothes to wear and shoes for their feet. Things we take for granted these days. The one constant thing they had was their faith and trust in the Lord and that same faith and trust carried Mom throughout her life. She had to drop out of school at the age of thirteen to help her mother, who was in poor health, to help raise her younger siblings. Even though her life was not an easy one, that smile and love for others was always present. When mom was twenty years old, she worked for the local drug store in Mount Olive and was introduced to a man who had just returned home from serving his country in the Korean War, a POW for 28 months. This was in September 1953 and they immediately started dating one another and on Valentine’s Day 1954 Perry and Mary were married. A marriage that would last 70 years until Dad’s passing in March of 2024. After Mom and Dad married they stayed close to Mount Olive in the small town of Beautancus where their first two children were born. After that they moved to Pender County and there, three more children were born. Then they moved to Wilmington in 1963. This place became their home. Mom worked at several different places throughout her adult life and the one constant thing was how much everyone loved working with Mom. Her coworkers became family to her and she loved them. Mom’s love was shared with her children’s friends, her neighbors, and her Grace Baptist Church family. No matter who you were, Mom was going to greet you with a smile, a hug, and tell you she loved you.  Mom was a beacon of light for everyone to see and she loved you unconditionally. She was loved and we are truly going to miss her for our remaining time on this earth. Mom knew and prayed for all of us to know that this life here on earth was temporary, but our eternal home is waiting for us with Jesus our Savior. Our Mom was a lover of many things; mainly her love for Jesus, her family, her friends, her pets that she loved like humans, her flowers and plants, and her love for the mountains. Mom never met a stranger, and she could put you at ease with her smile, her laugh, and her love.

                Mom was predeceased by her husband, Perry Walker Sr. Her surviving children are Marie Wallace (Tommy), Gwen Greene (Paul), Judith Woodyard (Dan), Perry Jr. (Barbara), and Susan Hart.

                Mom loved her grandchildren immensely. Mom was predeceased by her oldest grandson Chris Walker. Her remaining grandchildren are Mebane (Steven), Jonathan (Courtney), Meagan (Josh) and Perry lll. Mom also had seven great-grandchildren who she adored with all her heart. Mom also had step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren, people that grew up around Mom who are all adults now that always considered Mom to be their second Mom or second granny to them. Mom also had several nieces and nephews who she loved with her big heart.

                 Mom’s service will held Friday, January 30, 2026 at Andrews Mortuary Market Street Chapel, 1617 Market Street, Wilmington, N.C. Visitation with family will be from 12 noon to 1:00 pm. At 1:00 pm a service for Mom will be conducted by Pastor Jay Knolls from Grace Baptist Church. Following the service, the family will proceed to Oakdale Cemetery, 520 N.15th Street, Wilmington, N.C., where Mom will be laid to rest.

                In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the New Hanover Humane Society or Grace Baptist Church, 1401 N. College Rd., Wilmington, NC 28405.

                The family would also like to thank all the staff at Cypress Pointe Rehabilitation Center for their care and love for our Mom. Thanks also to a special friend Terri Dale for your love and care for Mom and also to the many prayer warriors who prayed for Mom continuously.

Share online condolences with the family, here, in the guestbook.