Ann Pettit Toney

Ann Pettit Toney, age 69, passed away, November 23, 2023, at Caromont Regional Medical Center of Gastonia, NC.

Ann is a graduate from A.C. Reynolds High School where she was a majorette. After graduation, Ann attended Lenoir-Rhyne College earning a Bachelor of Arts, a certification from the North Carolina School for the Deaf in American Sign Language, and a Masters’ Degree in Education from Western Carolina. Ann was a member of Pleasant City Church in Shelby, NC. She will be remembered as a wonderful Christian and known by many as the “sweetest person” they have known. Her dedication to teaching impacted many students who will fondly remember her love for them. She was selected as Teacher of the Year twice for Cleveland County Schools. Additionally, she was selected as Star Teacher of the Year. She was the first recipient of the Vincent J. Columbo Creative Teacher Award for Cleveland County Schools. Her passion for being an interpreter for the hearing impaired was a significant part of her life.

Ann is preceded in death by her parents, Jay and Susie Pettit of Asheville, her father and mother-in-law Robert and Cora Toney of Ellenboro, and sisters-in-law Lucille Luckadoo and Virle Martin of Ellenboro.

Ann is survived by her loving husband Sherrill Toney, son Matthew Toney (Courtney) and her loving granddaughters Reagan and Palmer Toney of Belmont, and son Andrew Toney (Tiffany) of Raleigh. She is also survived by her sisters Brenda Wilson and Margaret Pettit of Asheville, sisters-in-law Doris Anderson of Charlotte, Ruth Conder of Charlotte, Joyce Forbes of Ellenboro, Grace Nemeth of Christiansburg, VA, and her brothers-in-law Marvin Wilson of Asheville, John Martin of Ellenboro, and John Nemeth of Christiansburg, VA. Her memory will be cherished as well by her 7 nephews, 3 nieces, 8 grandnephews, and 7 grandnieces.

A private funeral service for Ann will be held at 11:00am, Wednesday, November 29, 2023, at Gashes Creek Baptist Church in Asheville, NC with Rev. Bryan Glisson and Rev. Mike Johnson officiating. Following the service, the family will receive friends at Pleasant City Church, 1146 County Home Road, Shelby, NC from 2:00pm-3:30pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the following: American Cancer Society, PO Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741, Donate.cancer.org; The V Foundation, 14600 Weston Parkway, Cary, NC 27513, Donate.V.org; North Carolina School for the Deaf at Morganton Foundation, Inc., PO Box 1397, Morganton, NC 28680, Ncsdfoundation.com.
 
Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home and Crematory is compassionately serving the family.