Mary Belle Grayson Sigmon


Mary Belle Grayson Sigmon, 76, passed away peacefully at Huntersville Oaks on Friday, July 27, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. after an extended illness.

Born on Feb. 12, 1931 in New York, Mary was the daughter of Durward Alfred Grayson and Geneva Viola Sparks Grayson.

She grew up in Marion and began taking piano lessons at a very young age. Ms. Sigmon graduated from Marion High School in 1949 where she played multiple instruments in the Marion High School Band and was the accompanist for the Concert Band.

She attended UNC-Greensboro and graduated from Lenoir-Rhyne College in 1953 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education with a concentration in piano. She continued studies at Appalachian State University and UNC-Charlotte during her career. Mary participated in the Music Educators National Conference, the Mu Beta Tau Music Society, the NCAE and the NEA.

Throughout the years, Mary was the organist at several churches including Calvary Lutheran, Morganton and First ARP in Mooresville. She taught public school music for many years, beginning her career in Mount Pleasant in 1953 where she taught chorus at the high school and elementary school.

Ms. Sigmon was the public school music teacher for all of the elementary schools in the Morganton City Schools from 1954 to 1956.

At Sharon Elementary, she taught second and third grades from 1956 to 1958, then continued in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in later years, teaching second, third and sixth grades at Hickory Grove Elementary, Plaza Road Elementary and Statesville Road Elementary. Mary also taught private piano, organ, and voice lessons.

Mary was a talented musician and vocalist who loved children and wanted to contribute to their lives in a meaningful way. She touched the lives of countless students, school personnel, and members of the community as an educator, musician, Sunday School teacher, and WELCA participant.

Mary was artistic and creative, enjoying oil painting, knitting, her garden club, and other related activities. Throughout her life, she was very involved in the Baptist churches in which she grew up as a child and the Lutheran churches of which she was a member as an adult, usually in capacities related to music. However, her happiest moments were spent with family and friends, particularly her granddaughter, Randall.

Ms. Sigmon is survived by one daughter, Mary Elaine S. Nelson, and husband, Kenneth, and one granddaughter, Randall Christine Elmo.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Heartfelt thanks go to the caring and professional staff members at Huntersville Oaks, medical professionals, Hospice and Palliative Care/Charlotte Region, and the many family and friends who have touched Mary's life throughout the years.

We will always cherish her gift of music, her sense of humor, her many kindnesses, and her elegance, style and grace. Mary's strength of character, her steadfast faith in God, and her courageous spirit have touched our lives in profound ways and we feel blessed to have known her, to have been loved by her and to have had the privilege of loving her in return.

The family will receive friends today, Aug. 1, 2007 from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Troutman. A celebration of Mary's life will be held today, Aug. 1, 2007 at 11 a.m. immediately following the visitation at the church. Dr. David R. Keck Sr. and Rev. Ted Goins will officiate.

Interment will follow at 3:30 p.m. at Bear Creek Baptist Church in Bakersville.

Memorials may be sent to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 308, Troutman, N.C. 28166 or Hospice and Palliative Care/Charlotte Region, 1420 E. 7th St., Charlotte, N.C. 28204. Troutman Funeral Home will be serving the family.