Mary Louise (Goforth Arrington) Schwarz

On December 19, 2025, our beloved mother, grandma, and great gran, Mary Schwarz, went home to be with Jesus. She was born on September 7, 1940, and lived a life rooted in faith, love, and family.

She is preceded in death by her first husband and the love of her life, Robert Arrington, with whom she built her life and family, and Edward Schwarz, whom she married later in life. She was also preceded in death by her beloved parents, Henry Clay and Lucille Laughter Goforth, her sister Ruth Ann Baker, and her brother, Stephen Goforth. She is survived by her sisters, Rebecca Candler and Sarah Weeks, her brother, Michael Goforth, and many nieces and nephews.

She was the proud mother to her daughters, Robin Devlin (Ernest) and Susan Watkins, and a proud grandmother to her grandchildren who she called her “treasures,” Danielle Prestwood (Shane), Sarah Devlin, Jacob Watkins, James Watkins, Mary Ann (Chaz) Voliva, and William Watkins. She delighted in her role as Great Gran to Canaan Walker and Everett Prestwood, who brought light and laughter through their “Canaan and Everett” stories she told her friends for many years.

If Mary loved you, you knew it because she called you. Her famous check-in calls were her way of showing love to the people she cared about. She loved Jesus with her whole heart and was a longtime member of Francis Asbury United Methodist Church. She found joy in friendship, a good book, cheering on her Carolina Tarheels, and sipping a cup of her favorite hot tea.

The family is thankful beyond words for the kindness, dignity and love shown by the staff at Aston Park Health Care Center.

Visitation for family and friends will be held on Saturday, December 27 from 1-2 p.m. with a memorial service immediately following at 2 p.m. at Francis Asbury United Methodist Church in Candler, NC.

Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue is assisting the family.