Mary Ella Cleary Wallace | Eastern NC Now

    Mary Ella Cleary Wallace, age 81 a resident of Belhaven, died Thursday May 14, 2026, at Ridgewood Nursing and Rehabilitation.

    A graveside service will be held on Monday, May 18, 2026, at 2:00 PM at Belhaven Community Cemetery with Pastor Ricky Adams officiating.

    The family will receive friends Saturday evening, May 16, 2026, from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM at New Hope Church of Christ in Pantego.

    Mary was born on May 1, 1945, in Beaufort County to the late Johnnie Morgan Cleary and Julia Catherine Foreman Cleary. She was a 1963 graduate of John A. Wilkinson High School and attended Beaufort County Community College. On September 26, 1963, she married Nelson Wallace, who preceded her in death on April 10, 2009. Mary retired as the school cafeteria manager at Northeast Elementary School in 2007. She was a member of New Hope Church of Christ. Mary enjoyed doing crossword puzzles and she was an avid chicken collector. In addition to her parents and husband, she was also preceded in death by her brother, Johnnie Cleary, Jr., sisters, Mattie Ratcliff and Louise Davis, and her grandson, Aaron Spencer.

    Survivors include her children, Nelson Wallace, Jr. (Michelle) of Plymouth and Cathy Wallace of Belhaven, brothers, James Cleary (Connie) of Belhaven and William Cleary (Retha) of Bath, grandchildren, Michael Spencer, Jr. of Belhaven, Paige Wallace of Washington and Hayley Campbell (Charlie) of Eure, great grandchildren, Henry, and Hunter Campbell.

    In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to, New Hope Church of Christ, 146 Swamp Rd., Pantego, NC 27860.

    Paul Funeral Home of Belhaven is honored to serve the Wallace family.