Marie Rakestraw Irving

Marie Rakestraw Irving, 91, passed away on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at Penn Nursing Center surrounded by her family.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00PM on Saturday, April 13, 2024, at Centenary United Methodist Church, 2415 Settle Bridge Rd., Stoneville, NC, with Dr. Patricia Spicer and Pastor Marty Brim officiating. Burial will immediately follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00PM at Wilkerson Funeral Home, 1909 Richardson Dr., Reidsville, NC, on Friday evening and other times at her home in Stoneville.

Marie was born March 14, 1933, to the late James “Leon” and Claudia Parks Rakestraw. She grew up in Stoneville and graduated from Stoneville High School in 1951 where she played basketball. Marie married Robert “Bob” Burns Irving and together they raised five children in Shiloh and later helped raise their grandchildren. Marie was always very involved in her children’s and grandchildren’s activities when they were growing up. She was a Cub Scout Den Mother, 4-H leader, and attended many sports activities over the years. She was a faithful member of Centenary United Methodist Church and was recognized last year as the oldest member of the church.

Marie worked alongside her husband at the Irving Fish Hatchery and tobacco farm for over fifty years. She had a keen eye for bookkeeping and maintained impeccable records. Marie enjoyed flower gardening and shared her plants with friends, family, and the community. She could often be found refilling her hummingbird feeders and planting flowers wherever there was a spot for them. She was well known for her cooking skills especially her homemade biscuits, sourdough bread, fudge, apple pie, and her white fruitcake at Christmas. Marie was also a very talented seamstress and sewed many of her children and grandchildren’s clothing. Marie was a member of Home Demonstration Club where she showed her cooking, sewing, and decorating skills.

Marie loved living in the country, but more than anything she loved her family. She was a loving and dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend. Marie was always willing to take care of anyone in need or lend a helping hand. Marie touched the lives of all who knew her and will be deeply missed by many.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of nearly 70 years, Bob Irving, and her sister, Gladys Rakestraw.

Marie is survived by her five children, Lyn Irving of Knoxville, TN, Judy Irving (Bob Sikes) of Stoneville, Leon Irving (Susan) of Madison, Bobby Irving (Debbie) of Madison, and JB Irving (Karen) of Stoneville; nine grandchildren, JL Irving (Di Dang), Carter Berry (Kate), Iris Irving (Jordan Myers), Alyn Beauregard (Adam), Holly Biggs (Hunter Brooks), Hunter Irving (Jen Lu), Chad Irving, Josh Irving, and Lauren Irving; seven great-grandchildren, Zeb, Ella, Zax, Cora, Hollyn, Lottie, and Camille; sister, Helen Rakestraw Tuttle; sister-in-law, Jane Irving,  in addition to numerous nieces, nephews, and other extended family.

The family would like to extend their deepest appreciation to the Home Caregivers Lib Long, Marie Aldridge, Dot Ellington; staff at Penn Nursing Center; and Dr. Paul Sasser at Dayspring Family Medicine.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Centenary United Methodist Church, 2415 Settle Bridge Road Stoneville, NC 27048.