Mattie Bullock Corbett

ANGIER – Mattie Bullock Corbett, 84, passed away on Wednesday at her home. Born in Pitt County, she was the daughter of the late Wadie Bullock and Lillian Strickland Bullock.

Mattie’s devotion to family was felt by everyone, she was sassy, witty, and silly all at the same time!! Mattie was a wonderful mom, grandma, great grandma, mother in law, aunt….. she really loved her family and would do anything for them.

Mattie worked hard all her life, and instilled that work ethic in her children. Growing up she worked with her family on the dairy farm, then she worked hard going to school, then she didn’t have to work so hard at finding the love of her life – Jim!

They eventually moved to Fuquay Varina from Rocky Mount, then the next chapter started – they had 4 awesome kids! (we can say that). Mom loved her family so much and would do anything for any of us! She instilled so many things in our life -- We all learned our love of the Mountains from her, and a love of country music – Roy Acuff, was always on in the background, or Johnny Cash – the sing alongs when we were younger in the car – crazy! Listening to the Grand Ole Opry…we still do!

Can’t stop there, have to share her love of westerns!! She pulled 2 more generations into the love of western movies, her children and a few grandchildren, to be precise. John Wayne westerns, or more generally, any John Wayne movie. Mattie loved 2 men in her life James Corbett, our Dad, and John Wayne. (John was dad's only threat, lol). She loved loved loved Nascar, careful how you plan an afternoon if the race is on! She was devoted to Dale Earnhart and could get all worked up if the races did not go as she wanted!!

That isn’t all she cared about- in her extended working life she was devoted to the Nurses and Doctors in the emergency department at Wake Med, as the admin that kept things hopping and organized. She was an honorary member of the Seven Sabres Brotherhood motorcycle club. Yes she had her own leather jacket, never had her own motorcycle but rode in the truck and helped with all their fund raising events, she adopted most of them but they adopted her right back.

Most lasting of all - You never knew what you were going to get from her, a sassy attitude, her silliness, or a soft hand or warm hug when you needed it. But whatever it was, it was Mattie 100% honest and pure.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, January 7, 2023, in the chapel of Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, Angier. A private burial will be held at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, Fuquay-Varina. The family will receive friends from 12:30-1:45 pm prior to the service at Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, Angier.

Mattie is survived by her children, Arlene Mabry (Tony) of Angier, Karen Owen (Duke) of Fuquay-Varina, Barton McCray Corbett (Jan) of Angier, Denise Mayfield (Tim) of Holly Springs; grandchildren, Zachary Mabry of Mount Olive, Jacob Mabry (Cassandra) of Angier, Melissa Sears (Keith) of Fuquay-Varina, Renee Mangum of Fuquay-Varina, Lauren Mangum of Durham, Grayson Corbett of Angier, Mikayla Byrd Corbett of Angier, Timothy “TJ” Mayfield of Cary; great-grandchildren, Elizabeth Mabry, Landon Mabry, Phoebe Mabry, Colton Sears, and Chase Sears.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 25 years, James McCray Corbett; siblings, Hazel Harrell, Louise DeBaune, Wadie Earl Bullock, and Avery Phillips.