Merle Holaday Stone

The obituary for Merle Holaday Stone is being shared as a courtesy to her daughter-in-law, Kelly Pope Stone and grandchildren, Wilson and Caroline Stone. Kelly is a native on of Anson County and she and her family are residents of Waxhaw, as was her husband, Tim prior to his passing. On Monday, May 24, 2021, Merle Holaday Stone, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, teacher,swimmer, gardener and the toughest person known by all, passed away peacefully to join her beloved husband, son and other dear relatives in heaven. Merle was born January 23, 1941 in Clarksdale, MS and was a daughter of the late Charles Ernest and Florence Rogers Holaday. Her family moved around Mississippi for much of her childhood and eventually settled in Arlington, VA for Merle’s teenage years. She attended Longwood College in Virginia, where on a blind date, she would meet her future husband and partner, Ben, who attended nearby Hamden-Sydney College. Following the completion of Merle’s studies, she and Ben were married in 1962. She worked as an elementary school teacher, while Ben completed his medical studies in Durham, NC. After their three sons were born, their family settled in New Bern, NC. She was enormously busy raising three energetic boys but found time to be an active part of First Presbyterian Church and numerous civic organizations. She was an avid bridge shark, accomplished watercolorist and she and Ben traveled extensively and loved to sail. It was in their later years, that she and Ben enjoyed traveling to see their family, especially their grandchildren. They would regularly celebrate their Scottish Heritage with Clan Pollock and attended Highland games at Loch Norman and Grandfather Mountain. Left to cherish fond memories of Merle are her sons, Harry Holaday Stone of Apex, NC, Christopher “Mike” Stone (Jamelyn Trucks) of New Orleans, LA; her daughter-in-law, Kelly Pope Stone of Waxhaw, NC; her grandchildren, Wilson Benjamin Stone and Caroline Holaday both of Waxhaw, NC and Maxwell Franklin Pollock Stone of New Orleans; her niece and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Harry Benjamin (Ben) Stone, III, her son Benjamin Timothy (Tim) Stone, and her step-mother, Janet Rainey Holaday. The family would like to thank White Oak of Waxhaw and Hospice of Charlotte for the very focused and attentive care provided to Merle in her final years. The family will greet friends from 6:00pm until 8:00pm on Tuesday, June 1, 2021 at Cotton Funeral Home in New Bern. Services will be at 10:00am Wednesday, 2, 2021 by the graveside in Greenleaf Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the American Diabetes Association or National Cancer Society. The arrangements are in care of Cotten Funeral Home in New Bern with Leavitt Funeral Home assisting with local arrangements.