MARY E.D.K. KORNEGAY
Mary Ellen Douglas Keith Kornegay was born March 30, 1935, to the late Isaac and Martha (Alderman) Keith in Duplin County and was reared in Wallace along with her two sisters and brother by their grandparents, Owen and Annie (Motts) Keith, who preceded her in death.
Celebration of life services for Ms. Kornegay will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at Bear Creek Headquarters, 1800 S. Slocumb St. in Goldsboro. She will be laid to rest at Wayne Memorial Park North in Goldsboro.
She was educated at C.W. Dobbins Elementary School in Wallace and Charity High School in Rose Hill, where she graduated in 1955, and shortly after, moved to Goldsboro where she continued her education at Wayne Community College, and was employed as a cook.
In 1960, she married James J. Kornegay and to this union six children were born.
Reared in Adorn Baptist Church, she accepted Christ at an early age and upon moving to Goldsboro, she joined St. Luke Church of Christ Disciples of Christ, then joined Tabernacle of Prayer under the leadership of the late elder Naomi Buckhrum, and served as Sunday school superintendent and on the usher board. She rejoined St. Luke in the late 1970s, where she was actively involved in various ministries including the youth ministry and notifying the Goldsboro News-Argus of church events for their church news listings.
Even though her health was declining, she continued her involvement in these ministries.
"Miss Mary," as she was affectionately known, was instrumental in the placement of handicapped-accessible curbing in her community.
She is survived by her devoted and loving children, David Mark Keith (Alethia) of Wilson, Dorothy Keith Simms (Holbert) of Goldsboro, Frances Ward (Richard) of Accokeek, Md., Katherine Kornegay Payne (Tony) of Knightdale, Shirley Kornegay of Goldsboro and Laura Kornegay Smith (Willie) of Zebulon; 15 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Annie Hilliard and Dorothy Newkirk of Goldsboro; one brother, Isaac Keith of Goldsboro; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Visitation for Ms. Mary Kornegay will be held at St. Luke Church of Christ Disciples of Christ on Elm Street tonight from 5 to 8. Family will be present to receive friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Her earthen vessel is peacefully resting at E.M. Matthews Funeral Home and Cremations Inc., where the Kornegay family is receiving compassionate and caring service.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on October 29, 2009 1:47 PM