Individual Details

Death

CONCORD - Mrs. Ola Furr Abernethy died at Eden Gardens on Feb. 15, 2006. Ola Catherine Furr was born to Walter C. Furr and Rena Little Furr in Cabarrus County on Nov. 25, 1906. She spent her childhood in Cabarrus County and her early education was through the public schools in Georgeville. She graduated from Mount Amoena Seminary in Mount Pleasant and North Carolina College for Women (now UNC-Greensboro) in 1927. She majored in English and mathematics and upon graduation began teaching seventh grade in the Mecklenburg County School System. During the next seven years, she taught in the public schools at Hickory Grove and Mint Hill. During World War II she accepted employment at the U.S. Post Office in Charlotte, and retired in 1956. On April 28, 1934, at the First Baptist Church in Charlotte, she married John McCoy Abernethy. They spent their married life in the Charlotte area and in 1941 they purchased their home on Kenwood Avenue. Mrs. Abernethy continued to live in their home until June 2001. For more than 60 years, she was a member of the Plaza Presbyterian Church. She never lost her love for Cabarrus County and in 2001 returned there to reside at Eden Gardens of Concord until her death. Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Ellen and Pat Bates of Alta, Wyo.; her granddaughter and her husband, Emily and E.L. Wilson III of Greensboro; her grandson and wife, Mark and Jamie Alford of Charlotte and her grandson, John Bates of Pocatello, Idaho. She is also survived by her brother, Coy Furr of Denver; and a number of nieces and nephews, including Dr. Carl A. Furr of Concord and Guilford Furr of Cleveland, Tenn. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John M. Abernethy; her daughter, Johnsie Alford; her sisters, Lela Furr and Alma Furr; and her brothers, Carl A. Furr, Charlie M. Furr and Earl M. Furr. There will be a graveside service 11 a.m. Monday at Sunset Memory Gardens in Charlotte with the Rev. Tom Tate officiating. Memorials may be made to charity of one’s choice. Condolences may be registered online at www.wilkinsonfuneralhome.com Wilkinson funeral Home in Concord is handling the arrangements for the Abernethy family.