Edna Frank McAllister was born on December 3, 1926, in White Plains, New York to Edwin and Anna Frank. During the depression at 14, she fibbed about her age to work part time at Roses and as an usher at various theaters on Broadway. Later in high school, she worked/modeled at the Barbizon School of Modeling in Manhattan for one year. She attended Metropolitan Hospital of Nursing in New York, NY. After graduation she worked at UNC and Duke Hospitals as an RN and worked for over 20 years as a pediatric nurse for Dr. Paul Maness of Burlington.
Edna was married 55 wonderful years to the late Larry Bikle McAllister Sr. whom she first met on a blind date while he was serving in the Army, stationed in Brooklyn, New York. After receiving her “Yankee passport” to allow her to move South, she became a true “Tar Heel” in every meaning of the word. She was extremely dedicated to her family as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and aunt.
Edna was an avid reader. She also loved painting, cooking, feeding the birds while chasing away the ever-pesky squirrels, gardening, and growing her prized tomatoes. She delighted in planting and caring for her flowers and had quite the green thumb. She enjoyed being an active part of a neighborhood-organized couples club called the “Twelve minus Two” where they met for various social activities on a monthly basis. Although she loved all of these things, she prized her family above all else. As a typical old-fashioned Mom, she was skilled in the art of concern as she fretted over every aspect of her children and grandchildren’s lives to ensure that they were happy.
She was a patient, wise, compassionate, loving, strong-willed, exceptionally caring, and fiercely independent lady. Even after a broken hip at age 92 restricted her movements to a walker, she still managed to drive herself to the beauty parlor nearly every Friday and she continued to do so until she suffered a debilitating stroke at age 94. She faced this adversity with a positive attitude and inspiring determination, as she underwent two months of intensive therapy allowing for arrangements to be made to return home for her final ten months of life. She truly cherished every moment she spent with her family, dear friends, and her caregivers. She was a beacon of cheerful light and welcoming graciousness to all who knew her. Her presence on this earth will be sorely missed.
Edna had been a member of Macedonia Lutheran Church serving within various church circles since 1953.
She is survived by her children Larry Bikle McAllister Jr. (Retta) of Spartanburg, SC, Barbara McAllister Turpin of Forest, VA, and Thomas Frank McAllister (Ellen) of Gainesville, GA, grandchildren Andrew McAllister (Elizabeth) of Mason, OH, John McAllister (Katee) of Spartanburg, SC, William McAllister (Kaitlin) of Montgomery, OH, Anna Kanter (Jonathan) of Richmond, VA, Benjamin Turpin of Cambridge, MA, Jessica Terry (John) of Atlanta, GA, and Will Holley of Toccoa, GA, and great grandchildren Harrison McAllister, Samuel McAllister, Claire McAllister, Miriam Kanter, Luke McAllister, and Ava McAllister.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, November 26, 2022 at 11:00 am in the Rich & Thompson Chapel in Graham. The family will receive friends from 10:00 am until 11:00 am prior to the service. A reception will follow the funeral service. A graveside service will be held on Monday, November 28, 2022 at 10:30 am at Graham Memorial Park.
Memorials can be made in her memory to Macedonia Lutheran church or AuthoraCare (Hospice) in Burlington.
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