Mabel Whisenant

MORGANTON Mabel Whisenant, 76, of Morganton, died Monday, Nov. 12, 2012, at Burke Hospice and Pallative Care in Valdese. Born Aug. 24, 1936, in Burke County, she was a daughter of the late Iverson Lee "Bud" Whisenant and Minnie Marie Epley Whisenant. A devoted and loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Mabel is survived by children, Gary Kelly, of Hickory, Brian Kelly and wife, Jeanne, of Fort Mill, S.C., Susan Kelly and Grant Harris, and Donna Kelly and Tony Benfield, all of Morganton; grandchildren, Garrett Kelly and Diane Ledford, Beth Kelly, Cliff Kelly, Savannah Powell, Kayla Powell, Treasure Kelly, and Fallon Benfield; great-grandchildren, Mikayla Kelly, Candice Kelly, Kristi Castro, Bryson Smith, and Kenyia Martinez; and siblings, Betty Jean Taylor, Patsy Cowfer and husband, Russ, Wayne Whisenant and wife, Susan, Mary Stilwell, and Brenda Moses and husband, Lonnie. In addition to her parents, Mabel was preceded in death by siblings, Doris Hurst and Winfred Whisenant; and the father of her children, Bill Kelly. Funeral services will be held at 12 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 15, at the Praise Assembly of God with the Rev. Kevin Crawford officiating. Burial will follow at Glen Alpine Cemetery. The family will receive friends Wednesday, Nov. 14, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center where the body will remain until placed in the church thirty minutes before the funeral hour. Memorial contributions may be made to Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 1721 Enon Rd., Valdese, NC 28690.

Published in The News Herald on November 13, 2012