Birth Date: 11/26/1924
Deceased Date: 12/28/2020
Mary Hair Mitchiner
November 26, 1924 – December 28, 2020
Raleigh
Mary Violet Hair Reese Mitchiner, 96, died Monday, December 28, 2020 at her residence at the Oaks at Whitaker Glen. Born November 26, 1924 in the Cedar Creek township in Cumberland County to Mary Emily McDonald and Samuel James Hair, Sr., she was the older sister of Samuel James Hair, Jr. who also predeceased her.
After growing up on her parents’ farm where she enjoyed close relationships with numerous McDonald and Hair cousins and her graduation from Stedman High School, Mary moved to Raleigh where she lived with her dear aunt, Sally McDonald Swift while attending business school.
She accepted a job at Pope Air Force Base in Fayetteville where she met a dashing young officer from
Kentucky, Wallace Kohlhass Reese, Jr. They married in 1949 and soon left for a three-year adventure in Germany. While there, they traveled over much of Europe, enjoying bull fights in Spain, trips to the Alps, and collecting antiques. While in Germany, Mary gave birth to her first daughter, Kathy.
When their posting in Germany was complete, Wallace and Mary were next stationed in Texas where they made many friends and enjoyed the social whirl of military life and their second daughter Marie was born.
In 1958, after Wallace’s accidental death, Mary brought her girls back to Fayetteville to be near family.
While there, friends introduced her to a handsome bachelor from Wilson’s Mills, James Joseph
Mitchiner. They married in 1961 and moved to Smithfield where Mary’s third daughter, Emily was born. Mary enjoyed her activities at First Baptist Church and loved her dear friends in the Dorcas Sunday School Class. She was active in the Trial and Error Garden Club and other community organizations.
She and Jimmy had a happy home often filled with beloved family and friends. Mary was an excellent cook and a gracious hostess. Her yard at her Wilson’s Mills Road home was her pride and joy – it was said that if a pinecone fell, she was there to catch it!
After Jimmy suddenly passed away in 1969, Mary continued being a wonderful mother to her 3 girls, sewing dresses, cooking delicious meals, and entertaining her daughters’ many friends who came and went on a regular basis. Her strong faith in God enabled her to live her life with courage and grace.
In 2004, Mary decided it was time to move to Raleigh to be near her daughters, her precious sons-inlaw; Bill, Scott, and George and her 8 grandchildren. While a resident at Whitaker Glen, she made many cherished friends and enjoyed her second church home, Hayes Barton Baptist Church. She took pride in her appearance, and even into her 80’s and 90’s, made sure she was well dressed and never a hair out of place. One of her greatest pleasures was perusing the clothing racks at Kannon’s, her “family store”, for just the right outfit or accessory.
Mary is survived by her daughters Kathy Reese Teague and husband Bill of Raleigh, Marie Reese Abee and husband Scott of Raleigh, and Emily Mitchiner Knuckley and husband George of Wendell; grandchildren Will Teague and wife Katherine, Mary Wallace Shaver and husband Jonathan, Clif Price, Reese and Oksana Abee, and Edward, Samara and James Knuckley; great grandchildren William and Davis Teague, and David, Sam, and Mary Jane Shaver. Mary is also survived by her dear sister-in-law Nettie Beasley Hair and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
The family is grateful for care given by “Mother’s ladies”; LaWanda, Marie, Carolyn, Linda, and Phyllis.
A family only graveside service will be held on Monday, January 4 at 2:00 at Sunset Memorial Park at the junction of Hwy. 70 and 210. (Please wear masks) The service will be livestreamed through the Parrish Funeral Home Facebook page.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Colbert Ministry Center Garden at First Baptist Church Smithfield, 202 South 4th Street, Smithfield, NC 27577 or to the Frankie Lemmon Foundation, 3101 Poplarwood Court, Suite 100, Raleigh, NC 27604.
