Mary Lancaster Young, 75, of Graham, passed away Friday, May 1, 2020 at her residence following a lengthy illness.
Born in Lee County, NC, Mary was the daughter of the late Ben and Lucille Lancaster. She was a devoted wife, mother and teacher. She graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 1968 and earned a Masters from Elon University.
Mary taught 7th grade science at Western Alamance Middle School for 31 years, retiring in 2000 due to cancer. During her career, she won numerous awards for excellence in teaching. She was the first North Carolina Teacher of the Year and the first National Board Certified teacher from the Alamance Burlington School System. She was asked many times to move into administration but loved the classroom and wanted to remain there.
After retiring and winning her fight with cancer she was active with the Methodist Women at First United Methodist Church of Graham. She used her teaching experience to teach a young Sunday school class. Mary was very creative. She loved to paint, enjoyed pottery, and developed into a skilled potter.
Mary was an active member of the Burlington Kiwanis Club serving as Club President. She and Nelson attended Carolinas District Conventions as well as International Conventions.
Mary loved the beach and the ocean. She would show her students the ecology of the beach and the marshlands through an annual field trip to Carolina Beach.
She will be missed by many especially her husband of 50 years Nelson Young, her son Ben Young and his wife Jennifer, her daughter Stephanie Allred and her husband Dan, her grandchildren, Maree and Lucy Allred and Davis and Drew Young, her two brothers, Mack and Ron Lancaster and her sister, Nancy Surratt.
A private service will be held for family and a public memorial service will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church of Graham, 303 N. Main St., Graham, NC 27253.
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