Madeline White Pennell
December 11, 1904 ~ March 17, 1999
Asheville Butterfly TrailMrs. Pennell was married to the late Asheville attorney, George C. Pennell, and was a graduate of Mars Hill College and Vance Business College. She taught in the Buncombe County School System and business colleges in the 1920's and was a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and homemaker.
For 29 years she was Superintendent of Green Hills Cemetery and served as Chief Administrative Officer of the Board of Directors as well as Superintendent-Treasurer of the cemetery.
Mrs. Pennell was known for her involvement in First Baptist Church, where she was, among other things, elected to a position of Life Deacon. Her places of leadership and involvement in the church were varied, including many years as a Youth Sunday School Teacher, President of the WMU, and she was active in the Baptist State Convention.
She was also well known for her community involvement, serving on the committee for the restoration of the Zebulon Vance Birthplace, as well as the George Truett home. She was a member of the Board of Directors of the Asheville YMCA, president of the Vetust club, president of the Garden Club, and president of the Lanier Literary Society.
For 35 years she served on the Mars Hill College Board of Trustees and was the longest serving member of any person on the Board. She was member and Secretary of the Board of Advisors for the Salvation Army in Asheville, as well as the Advisory Board of the Appalachian Consortium. She was chosen 'Woman of the Week' and Woman of Distinction' by the Asheville Citizen-Times and the Women's Service Club of Asheville in 1957.
She was recognized for her book reviews, research programs and knowledge of the study of antiques. She and her late husband wrote a number of historical reviews and gave numerous presentations on the history of Asheville and Buncombe County.
Survibing are a son and daughter-in-law, Dr. and Mrs. Timothy C. Pennell of Winston-Salem; a daughter and son-in-law, Mary George Brewer and Dr. Luther Brewer of Cary; two sisters, Mary White Towe and Mrs. J. Nicholas Davis of Asheville' six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 2:00 pm Saturday at the First Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Ron Crawford and the Rev. Gail Coulter will officiate. Burial will be in Green Hills Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Clark Pennell, Richard Hart, Sr., Charles Dent, Glenn Wilcox, Dr. John Spencer and Jim Mills. Honorary pallbearers will be First Baptist Church Deacons, Green Hills Cemetery Board of Directors, and Trustees and former Trustees of mars Hill College.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Asheville, Mars Hill College, or the Salvation Army of Asheville.
Mrs. Pennell will remain at Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue until being placed in the church 30 minutes prior to the service.
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To all the family:
Your parents meant a lot to all our family. Neil’s father had Mr. Pennell ass a Sunday School teacher . That does go back a few years.Madeline always had a kind word for you and you always felt better after talking with her. Your family was one of our church members that Neil spoke of so highly . We took the First Baptist history under your father, I know that God prepared a special place for her and she is enjoying it right now.
In His Love,
Sandra Martin