The Obituary

Catherine McDaniel Gary was born on December 23, 1915 to the late Samuel and Georgianna McDaniel. The mighty trumpet sounded upon her on April 30, 2010 at Nash General Memorial Hospital. Mother was very grounded in her roots and shared the values and visions of God's Love with all of her children. She often quoted the scripture, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he shall not depart from it". She never complained and when asked how she was doing, even in the valley of death, her reply was always, "Fine." Mother adored the simple things in life and took pleasure in cooking, gardening, quilting, and traveling to the grocery store several times a week. She loved the Lord and served as a faithful member at Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Enfield, NC all of her life dutifully serving as an active usher for over twenty-eight years. Her passion for family and friends was annually expressed through the Gary/McDaniel Family Reunion and has been a consistent process for fifty wonderful years. Mother was infamous for her comical behaviors and memorable quotes such as, "Keep Living", "It's just one of those things", "Work while it's day", and last but not least, "If a dog bites you one time it's a mistake, but if he bites you again you're a fool." She surpassed the life expectancy of sixteen siblings and has encompassed a generational gap. Due to the art of preservation, the history of most of her siblings date back to the early Eighteenth Century. The siblings are listed as follows: Russell McDaniel, Mary McDaniel, Joseph McDaniel, Eva McDaniel, Sammy McDaniel, William McDaniel, Johnny McDaniel, Jimmy McDaniel, Theodore McDaniel, Claude McDaniel, Mammie Watson, Maude Solomon, Lizzie McDaniel, Bessie Jones, Josephine McDaniel, and Freddie Willie. Also preceding mother in death was her lovely husband, Leslie Gary and two beautiful daughters, Mrs. Shirley Wiggins and Mrs. Georgia Hester. She leaves behind to cherish her memories eight devoted children: Vanell Dixon(Larry)Boston, MA, James Gary (Mary)Washington, DC, Leslie Gary (Gerri)Fort Washington, MD, Lucille McAllister, Bowie, MD, Dorothy Niverose(Frank)Passaic, NJ, McKinley Gary, Landover, MD, Hazel Gary, Bowie, MD, and Debbie Hardy(Willie), of the home. Dear to her heart were also five special in-laws: Rebecca Rogers, Enfield, NC, the late Odessa McWilliams, Enfield, NC, Elquint Gary, Enfleld, NC, Estee Gary, New Port News, VA, and Deacon Robert Gary, Enfield, NC, the brother-in-law who assisted mother in caring for her children after the expiration of her husband. She contributed to the lives of all of her grandchildren, five of which she helped care for in her home: Joyce Williams(Rick), Upper Marlboro, MD, Patricia Lindsey(Norris), Suitland, MD, Douglas Gary(Tracy), Enfleld, NC, Willie Hardy Jr, Enfield, NC, and Kacee E. Hieke(Monte), Durham, NC. Remaining behind to carry on her legacy are over twenty-two grandchildren, thirty-five great-grandchildren, and five great-great grand children. For ninety-four years mother embedded in us that we all are just "sweeping through the city" and that no man came here to stay. Her teachings have anchored the family in the Lord and assured us that if we walk right, that we all shall inherit the Kingdom of God. She was truly blessed and will be greatly missed for the magnitude of the countless lives that she touched in so many special ways.
"Keep Living" Words of Encouragement by Mrs. Catherine Gary

Condolences are welcomed!