Mary Lou Williamson

Mary Lou Ellison-Williamson, 69, of Mebane NC, passed away March 23, 2019, with her husband, daughter, and sister by her side. Following a long illness, Mary Lou now rests in the loving arms of our Heavenly Father. 

She was a sister, mother, wife, and grandmother.  Most of all, Mary Lou cherished her role as grandmother.

She was born to Everett Hale and Mary Cook Ellison on July 18, 1949.  She was the baby sister of nine siblings. Mary Lou was predeceased by her parents, a brother Alfred Ellison, and a brother Frank Ellison.  She is survived by her devoted husband of 30 years and caregiver Don Williamson of Mebane NC; her daughter April White, son-in-law Bob, and granddaughter Isabelle of Mebane NC; sister Alpha Cook of Pineville WV; sister, Geraldine Jackson of Pineville WV;  sister Gladys Browning of Sterling Heights Michigan; sister Helen Parsons and her husband Doug of Simpsonville SC; brother Gene Ellison and his wife Priscilla of Defuniak Springs FL; brother Bill Ellison and his wife Maribea of Charleston WV; along with the many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and cousins.

Mary Lou spent most of her life in Pineville WV. She was a graduate of Pineville High School and worked alongside her sisters Geraldine and Alpha, and niece Liz at the Castle Rock Restaurant. They enjoyed the camaraderie and a mutual love of working and laughing together.  Many happy memories and family bonding happened at the Castle Rock. Despite her hectic schedule, Mary Lou found passion in hobbies.  She was an excellent seamstress and loved working with flowers.

Mary Lou nurtured her daughter April through childhood, adulthood, and motherhood. In November of 2005, when her granddaughter Isabelle was 6 months old, she and Don relocated to North Carolina to be full-time grandparents. They played, laughed, and enjoyed the happiest of times.

Marylou loved her family deeply and was a faithful Christian.  Most recently she was a member of Mt. Adar Baptist Church in Mebane, NC. She was a former member of Rock Castle Baptist Church in Pineville WV.

The entire family extends deep gratitude to Mary Lou’s care teams at Cone Health and Duke University Medical Center: Dr. Janak Choksi, Dr. Govinda Brahmanday, Dr. Glenn Chrystal, and Dr. Michael Morse. Without the many nurse practitioners, nurses, medical assistants, lab techs, and service representatives the doctors cannot perform their great work, so we’d like to send special thanks to the many staff members at both institutions for their incredible care and compassion.

To make a charitable donation in lieu of flowers:
Donations in Mary Lou’s name can be made to Hospice and Palliative Care Foundation of Alamance-Caswell: 914 Chapel Hill Road, Burlington, NC 27215. Donations to The Carcinoid Foundation are also appreciated since the disease that Mary Lou battled for so long is quite rare: https://carcinoid.kindful.com

Campaign type: “in memory of”. 

Services for family and friends will be held at Calfee Funeral Home in Pineville, WV.

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