Mary Neal Whisnant

She was born September 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 at Lee H. Edwards High School in 1934, she married John K. Whisnant. For more than fifteen years they made their home in Enka 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 and Cary, NC and in Greenville, SC.

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, NC; 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 Germanic Studies at Furman University, and Kathleen Brady Whisnant of Greenville, SC; and Dr. John K. Whisnant, Jr., Vice President of Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and his wife Nora Bartlet Whisnant of Belle Meade, NJ.

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 on to her grandchildren. She is also survived by thirteen grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

A memorial service for Mrs. Whisnant will be 1:30 pm Friday, April 21, in the Starnes Chapel of West Asheville Baptist Church with the Rev. Frank Joseph Mitchell of Troy, Alabama, officiating. Burial will follow at Green Hills Cemetery.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to West Asheville Baptist Church, 926 Haywood Road, Asheville, NC 28806, or to Travelers Rest United Methodist Church, 19 South Main Street, Travelers Rest, SC 29690.

Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue is assisting the family.