Mary Lee Young

Sister Mary Lee Degraffenried Young was born on March 3, 1941 in Chapel Hill, NC to the late William Junior DeGraffenreid and Lilly May Wynn DeGraffenreid.

She was the oldest of ten children, four of whom preceded her in death: William DeGraffenreid Jr., Shirley Ann DeGraffenreid, Margret Ann DeGraffenreid, and Henry Lee DeGraffenreid.

The family will receive visitors at Parrish Funeral Home on Friday, May 15, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM. A memorial service will be held on Saturday May, 16 2026 at 11:00 AM at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Selma. A graveside service will be held in Rest Haven Cemetery in Dunn, NC, on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at 2:00 PM.

She is survived by three brothers, Thomas Junior DeGraffenreid (wife, Rosa), of Erwin, NC, Hal DeGraffenreid (wife, Kaye), of Stafford, England, Carl DeGraffenreid, of Smithfield, NC; two sisters, Sylvia Ann Barnes (husband, Claude), of Kenly, NC, and Belle Brown (husband, Howard), of Fuqua Varina, NC.

Sister Mary Young, with daughter Robin, married Sherrill Donald Stewart on December 24, 1961. To them, three sons were born, one of whom (Sherrill Stewart Jr.) preceded her in death. She is survived by her sons, Sherrod Edward Stewart, of Smithfield, NC. Kenneth Duncan Stewart, of Selma, NC; daughter, Robin DeGraffenreid Allen, of West Columbia, SC; four grandchildren, Benjamin Williford Jr., Jamica Williford, Ryan Williford, and Ashley Williford; two great grandchildren, MayAri Williford and MorGan Williford; a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.

She was widowed on October 4, 1994. Sister Young remained a widow until she met and married Peter Davis Young on April 21, 2001, blending their families to include Renee Young Belvin and Greer Fields, of Queens, New York, Nina Hooks (husband, Randall), of Dover, Delaware, Peter Young Jr., (wife, Yvette), of Newark, Delaware, Joel Young, of Brooklyn, NY, Lance Young, (wife, Tammie) and Larry Young.

Sister Young was aided in the truth and began attending the Dunn Congregation. She was baptized June 27, 1981, and remained a faithful servant of Jehovah until she fell asleep in death May 6, 2026.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at Parrishfh.com