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Mary Elizabeth March was born on September 29, 1943 and died in 1976. During the fall of her sophomore year at Woman’s College (now UNC-Greensboro) Mary made her debut with The Terpsichorean Club of Raleigh. Shortly thereafter infirmary personnel at the college sent Mary home because they suspected she was terminally ill. At Duke she was diagnosed with syringomyelia, a brain tumor that surrounded the brain stem and was inoperable. An extremely difficult life followed. Her mind, which remained clear almost until her death, was basically cut off from her body, which gradually lost functionality over the next 12 years. She struggled to finish her Bachelor of Arts degree over several years and graduated from North Carolina State University. She especially enjoyed weaving at the Pullen Arts Center near the NCSU Bell Tower and made many lovely gifts for her friends. Her services were held at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Raleigh. Mary is buried in her family plot at Oakwood Cemetery.
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Betty Ruth Johnson (Angell)
Mary Elizabeth March was my closest childhood friend. We met as neighbors on St. Mary's St. in Cameron Villlage Apartments (now condominiums) when we were five. We attended Daniels Junior High and Broughton together, but she went to Ravenscroft while I attended Wiley and Sherwood Bates. We had one history cless together at NBHS; Mary was mad with me because I went to the movies the night before our final exam and still made a better grade than she did. Shortly after she was presented at the Terpsichorean Debutante Ball, she was sent home from Woman's College (now UNC-Greensboro) to an extremely difficult life. Although she finished her degree at NC State University, she suffered terribly for years as her inoperable brain tumor tightened around the brain stem, slowly disconnecting her mind from her torso. My first child, Laura Elizabeth, is named for her. She wove a beautiful blanket for her at the Pullen Arts Center, then made another one for my second daughter who was conceived just before her death, although she never knew I was pregnant again. Having both been reared as only children, I knew I did not want to have just one child and Mary agreed. I will always treasure our friendship!