Mary Forehand Partin

  Mary Forehand Partin, 87, passed away on Saturday, April 7, 2018. Mary was an innovative educator who used her boundless energy in compassionate educational outreach.

  Mary valued education and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Wake Forest University, Master of Arts from Duke University and completed many postgraduate courses at East Carolina University. Among her academic and other plaudits, she was a member of the Pi Alpha Honorary Fraternity, awarded a full scholarship in the master’s program at Duke University, recipient of the “Woman of the Year Award” in 1995 by the Edenton Business and Professional Women’s Club, recipient of the Governor’s Volunteer award for Chowan County in 1984, and served as a board member of North Carolina Directors of Instruction/Supervision from 1971-1972. In addition, Mrs. Partin was a state board member of North Carolina Women’s Missionary Union as well as member of the Wake Forest University Poteat Scholarship Selection Committee from 1982-1985 and a Class Representative. She was very active both at the local and state level. Mrs. Partin taught English in several school systems for 10 years before arriving at Edenton-Chowan Schools in 1963 as a high school English teacher. She later moved on to Director of Instruction/Supervision at Edenton-Chowan Schools for five years before serving in the same capacity at Tyrrell County Schools in 1972-1973. Mrs. Partin became affiliated in 1985 with College of The Albemarle as Director of ABLE Center. Her commitment to helping others provided the foundation for her work in Continuing Education, as Director of Literacy Education and as Dean of the Chowan County Campus. At Edenton Baptist Church she served as a Deacon, Coordinator of the Bereavement Ministry, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Chairman of the Personnel Committee, Adult Sunday School teacher, Director of Women’s Missionary Union, Chairman of Baptismal Committee, member of the Pastoral Search Committee, as well as any other role where she could faithfully serve her Lord. Community involvement included Daughters of the American Revolution (Second Vice-Regent), Colonial Investment Club (President), Delta Kappa Gamma (Honorary Society of Women Educators), Chowan County Democratic Woman’s Club (President, Vice-President and Publicity Chairman), Friends of Shepard-Pruden Library, Chowan Arts Council, Chowan Hospital Auxiliary, and Friends of Historic Edenton. In addition, she served as a member of Chowan County North Carolina Symphony (President, Vice-President, Publicity Chairman), Chairman of Chowan County Fund Drives (American Cancer, American Heart Association, American Kidney Foundation), and Chairman of College of the Albemarle’s Chowan County Annual Fund Drive.   She was featured in a publication entitled “College of the Albemarle”, Chronicles of  Academic Achievement with a sub-title of 50 Years—50 Women 1961-2011 by William R. Sterrit. Mary may best be remembered for her tireless efforts in opening the Chowan Campus of COA where she served with vision and excellence as the first Dean of the Chowan County Campus.

  In addition to her parents, Jesse Oscar Forehand and Eva Hollowell Forehand, she was preceded in death by her husband, Jim Pittman Partin, Sr., and her brothers Colon, Shirley and Hubert M. Forehand.

  Mary’s greatest sense of fulfillment came from her family. Left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Annette Cedeno and husband Doug, and their daughter, Taylor Nicole Cedeno. Also surviving are Jim’s children and their families, Anna Bass and husband Tom, Pat Etter and husband Bill, and Jim Partin, Jr.; grandchildren Barbara Jo Bass, Janet Faulkner, Tommy Bass, David Etter, and Stacia Hanscom; nine great-grandchildren and eight great-great grandchildren.

  Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. in Edenton Baptist Church and will be conducted by The Rev. David Brooks and The Rev. Patrick Cardwell. A reception for friends and family will be in the church fellowship hall immediately following the service, and the burial on the family plot at Ballard’s Bridge Baptist Church Cemetery in Tyner will follow the reception. At all other times the family will receive friends at the residence.

  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Music Fund of Edenton Baptist Church, 200 South Granville Street, Edenton, NC 27932, or to the College of The Albemarle Foundation, P.O. Box 2327, Elizabeth City, NC 27906-2327, or online at [email protected].

  Miller Funeral Home & Crematory, 735 Virginia Road, Edenton, is assisting the family with arrangements, and online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com.