Mary Love Gray Carter Lilley

   Mary Love Gray Carter Lilley, a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away in her home in Centreville, MD, on March 22, 2021 at the age of 92. She was born February 14, 1929 in Norfolk, VA.

   At 18 years of age, Mary Love married Richard Earl Carter and moved to Gates County, NC.  They raised two children, Richard Edward and Margaret Dee. Four years after the death of Richard Earl in 1966, Mary Love was blessed with two bonus step-children, Doug Lilley and Jennifer Lilley Paris. After 65 years in Gates County, Mary Love spent 5 years at Lighthouse Pointe in Chesapeake. She spent the last 4 years of her life in Maryland with her daughter and son-in-law caring for her at their home.

   Mary Love was an integral member of the Gates County community for 65 years.  She worked at Miller Equipment Company, Tarheel Bank and Trust, and retired from the ASCS Office in Gatesville. After retirement, she worked at Lane Farm Supply and Gates County Sheriff’s office. She was a member of Gatesville Baptist Church, its Adult Choir, and the WMU. Nothing brought Mary Love more joy than her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Mary Love was a beloved member of the community and her many friends and cousins were a special part of her life.

   Mary Love was preceded in death by her father and mother, Bill and Edna Gray; her sister, Margaret Gray; her husband, Richard Earl Carter; a granddaughter, Catherine Lilley McLean; and sisters-in-law, Minnie Vee (Carl) and Elizabeth Perry (Harrell).  She is survived by her children, Richard/Ric Carter (Kitty), Margaret Dee Lauterbach (Larry), Doug Lilley (Martha), and Jennifer Paris; her brother-in-law, The Honorable Robert Carter (Judy); her grandchildren, Lisa Bunch Dullaghan (Mike), Eric Bunch, Emily Carter (Megan), Beth Carter (Chris), Amanda Lilley Teachey (Carl) and Parker Galloway; and her great-grandchildren, Caroline, Catie, Carter and Camryn Dullaghan, Ozzie Bunch, Norah and Gray Carter Littrell, Corbin McLean and two more on the way.

   Funeral services will be held Friday, March 26^th at 11 a.m. in Gatesville Baptist Church and will be conducted by The Reverend Richard E. Wynne, D. Min. The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall of the church following the service. Interment will follow at 2:30 p.m. at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens 3920 Airline Blvd., Chesapeake, VA.

   In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Gatesville Baptist Church, P.O. Box 167, Gatesville, NC 27938.

   Online condolences may be made at www.millerfhc.com.