Mary Neal Rudisill Whisnant

Mary Neal Rudisill Whisnant, 83, died in Chapel Hill, N.C., on April 17, 2000.

She was born Sept. 28, 1916, and was the adopted daughter and only child of William Pierce and Virginia Pearl Rudisill of Asheville. After graduating as co-valedictorian of her class of Lee H. Edwards High School in 1934, she married John K. Whisnant.

For more than 15 years, they made their home in Enka, N.C., where she devoted herself to raising her family while serving as an active leader in her sons' schools and in the West Asheville Baptist Church. In later years, she resided in Shelby, Greensboro, Chapel Hill, Cary, and Greenville.

Mrs. Whisnant's four sons, together with their wives, survive her: Dr. Richard A. Whisnant, recently retired Principal Scientist at the Research Triangle Institute, and his wife, Elaine Sanford Whisnant of Cary, Dr. David E. Whisnant, Professor of English at the University of North Carolina, and his wife, Dr. Anne Mitchell Whisnant of Chapel Hill, Dr. Norman E. Whisnant, Professor of German Studies at Furman University, and Kathleen Brady Whisnant of Greenville, and Dr. John K. Whisnant Jr., Vice-President of Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and his wife, Nora Bartelt Whisnant of Belle Meade, N.J.

Throughout her life she motivated, guided and supported the education and developing careers of her four professional sons, while her creative handwork and motherly support was passed to her grandchildren. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.