Mary Bates Sherwood

Mary Bates Sherwood, 95, a historian and retired educator died Saturday, September 17, 2022 at Glenaire Health

Center in Cary. She is survived by her brother, Frank W. Sherwood and several nieces and nephews.

The recipient of the 2004 Distinguished Alumna Award is a scholar with a passion for the arts, history, her family,

First Presbyterian Church, and of course Peace College.

Long active in the Raleigh community, this alumna served as a member of the North Carolina Museum of History

Associates, volunteer for the North Carolina Museum of Art, former board president for the Wake County Historical

Association, member of the Junior League of Raleigh, Docent at Haywood Hall and was very active in the Caswell-

Nash Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Her giving spirit is also portrayed in her service to First Presbyterian Church. She was a Deacon and Elder and

served on the “Building Bridges” committee working to improve access for the handicapped and disabled. On

Sunday mornings, you could find her working in the church library.

She is a historian and a retired educator. After receiving her Bachelor of Arts and Masters in Education from UNC-

Chapel Hill, she taught at Campbell University for 22 years and part-time at Meredith College. Her career also led

her to consulting on two North Carolina History texts for 4 th and 8 th grade children as well as a teacher’s guide to

women in North Carolina history.

Her devoted, loyal leadership to Peace dates back to 1907 when her grandfather, Henry Jerome Stockard, served as

Peace’s president until 1912. In 1943, she enrolled at Peace as a Prep student after hearing many years of Peace

stories from her mother and grandmother who also attended Peace. She was involved in two scholastic honor

societies, president of the International Relations Club, Papyrus Club, and on the Lotus editorial staff. Her

involvement in Peace did not waver after her graduation in 1947. She was a member of the Heritage Society, served

on the Alumnae Association Board of Directors, and two terms on the Board of Visitors from 1991 to 1997. AS a

Class Agent she led her class fundraising to a total of 52% participation.

A friend described her as knowing the meaning of compromise and cooperation. She had a pleasant way of helping

people see the other side of the problem and always presented good, solid resolutions. She exemplified integrity,

generosity, and character. She never met a stranger and was overwhelmingly generous to her family… she traveled

extensively with her nieces, nephews, and great-nieces to New York City, Europe, and beyond.

Peace College is proud to recognize the exemplary achievements of Mary Bates Sherwood, Prep Class of 1945,

Associates graduate of 1947, and 2004 Distinguished Alumna Award Winner.

A memorial service will be held 1:00 PM on Saturday, October 1, 2022 at Bryan-Lee Funeral Home Chapel- 831

Wake Forest Road, Raleigh, NC. A full obituary may be found at www.bryanleefuneralhome.com

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church Scholarship Fund -or- SPCA of Wake

County, 200 Petfinder Ln., Raleigh, NC 27603.