Mary R. Holcombe | Eastern North Carolina Now

    "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us" (Hebrews 12:1 NIV).

    On February 2, 2015, Mrs. Mary Matilene Raley Holcombe joined that great cloud of heavenly witnesses.

    Mrs. Holcombe was born to James Thomas and Ivie Clinkscales Raley of Vincent, Alabama on April 11, 1923. She was the oldest of six children. She graduated from Vincent High School and was the Valedictorian of her class. On September 9, 1943 she married John Wright Holcombe (deceased) of Union, South Carolina.

    Mrs. Holcombe lived most of her adult life in Union, South Carolina. She was a homemaker, a true helpmate, who devoted her life to her family, church, and community. She was very active in the Westside Baptist Church of Union, South Carolina. She worked with children, youth, Women's Missionary groups, and taught a lady's Bible Study class for more than thirty-years. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Holcombe became a member of New Life Baptist Church in Union where she continued to serve and teach. Mrs. Holcombe moved to Washington, North Carolina in 2009 to live with her daughter. In 2009, she joined the First Baptist Church of Washington, where she continued to serve as her health permitted.

    Mrs. Holcombe is survived by her daughter Karen Holcombe Moore and son-in-law Dr. Jimmy Moore of Washington, North Carolina; her son, Walter E. Holcombe of Union, South Carolina; four grandchildren, Stephanie Warren and Amie O'Kane of Washington, North Carolina, and David Holcombe and Sarah Stevenson of Union, South Carolina. She is also survived by eight great-grandchildren.

    In addition, Mrs. Holcombe is survived by a brother, Dan T. Raley of Alabama, and three sisters: Nadine Southern, Sarah Weldon, and Christine Dorminey all of Alabama. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, a brother Raymond Raley, and a daughter-in-law Beth Reynolds Holcombe.

    A Celebration of Life will be held at the First Baptist Church Life Center in Washington, North Carolina at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, February 4, 2015. Dr. Greg Barmer will officiate. A visitation time will be held one hour prior to the service at the church and other times at the home of her daughter, Karen Moore, 306 Cowan Street, Washington.

    A graveside service will be held on 2:00 PM Thursday, February 5, 2015 at Union Memorial Gardens in Union, South Carolina. The family will receive friends prior to and after the service.

    The family requests that memorials be made to The Widow's Mite Fund, First Baptist Church, 113 North Harvey St., Washington, North Carolina 27889.

    Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com

    Paul Funeral Home and Crematory in Washington is honored to serve the Holcombe family.