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Grace Sanderson Farrior 91, died January 10, 2022 at Vidant Duplin Hospital.
Mrs. Farrior was born February 23, 1930 in Magnolia, NC. Her parents were Walter James and Nellie Rackley Sanderson; her father a WWI veteran and farmer, her mother a teacher. Her childhood was happy, filled with family all around on the farm.
She was a member of the 1949 class of Kenansville High School. She also graduated from East Carolina College with a BS in Education in 1953 and from East Carolina University with a MA in Education and Administration in 1958.
Her calling in life was to teach and she was an excellent teacher. There have been many former students that have become teachers because of her influence in their academic lives, including her daughter. She was always a leader in her profession. She was Wallace Elementary’s first Teacher of the Year, president of Classroom Teachers, a life time member of NCEA and NEA and was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma since 1959. Mrs. Farrior taught fifth grade at Wallace Elementary from 1954 until her retirement in 1990.
Her greatest joys in life were by far that of wife, mother and grandmother. She and James A. Farrior were married June 11, 1960. They had two children, Sarah Alice and Wade McNeil and also James’ son James A Farrior Jr.. Sadly, their marriage was cut short when Mr. Farrior died suddenly in August 1974. It was a bitter heartbreak and only through her strong faith was she able to pick up the pieces and move on to become both mother and father to their children without ever skipping a beat. Grace Farrior was a strong woman and a wonderful mother. Eventually the great joy of grandchildren came. First there was Tripp Perry, then Grace Perry, next Alex Farrior and Andrew Williams. Being “Grandma” trumped all other names she had ever had. Whether she was rocking one, taking them to Pizza Hut after preschool, babysitting, picking them up from school and helping with homework, going to endless court of honors, ballgames, and award assemblies, or volunteering in their classrooms at school, Grandma was always there and loving every minute of it.
Her love of family extended beyond that of her nuclear family. Family was always the most important part of her life. Her brother, sister, nieces, and nephews both Sanderson and Farrior have eaten many meals cooked in Grace Farrior’s kitchen so that they could all be together and enjoy a birthday or a Christmas celebration made special. She loved to entertain and loved to do it “right.”
After her children grew up and left home Mrs. Farrior made a whole new life for herself, She jumped right into retirement and enjoyed it to its fullest. First Baptist Church of Wallace with all of its activities, needs and fellowship became her new home.
She also traveled all over the United States just like she had always wanted to do after having taught about it for 36 years. It did not matter if she was traveling with friends, church, or her brother, sister-in-law, and sister. If someone said, “Let's go,” she said, “Let me get my suitcase.” There were times when her children did not know what state she was in, but they did know that she was having a good time and that their mother was adventurous.
Then as time marched on and she was no longer able to manage the day to day activities that she enjoyed; she made the decision herself to move into Dayspring of Wallace. She made the decision with her usual grace, dignity and thoughtfulness. Again, she made a new life for herself and made the best of it.
Mrs. Farrior is survived by her children Sarah Perry (Jim), Wade Farrior (Shella), Jim Farrior (Janet), grandchildren, James Farrior III, Tripp Perry (Ashley), Grace Perry, Alex Farrior, Andrew Williams, many wonderful nieces, nephews and best friends Reba Stone, Doris Webb and Willa Currie.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her brother Ray Sanderson, sister-in-law Lulu Sanderson, and sister Sarah Sanderson.
Funeral services will be held
Friday at 3:00PM at the First Baptist Church, Wallace, NC
With a reception and visitation prior to the services at 2:00 in the Church Fellowship Hall.
Masks and hand sanitizer will be available at all entrances.
The family would like to thank the staff at Dayspring for almost three years of prayerful, loving and thoughtful care that they have shown to “Mrs. Grace.”
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donors give to a charity of their choice or to
Operation Christmas Child
c/o First Baptist Church of Wallace
408 W. Main Street
Wallace, NC 28466
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