Paul Alexander Mabe

Paul Alexander Mabe, Jr., M.D., 85, of 103 Windy Mill Drive, North Augusta, S.C., formerly of 1221 Pennrose Drive, Reidsville, N.C., entered into the presence of the Lord on Sunday, October 7, 2012. A native of Morganton, N.C., he was married to Grace Truman Anderson on August 14, 1945. From 1945 to 1946 he served in the US Army in Europe, and returned to graduate with a B.S. degree from Wake Forest University in 1949. He later received his M.D. degree from Duke University School of Medicine in 1953. A 57-year resident of Reidsville and Rockingham County, Dr, Mabe practiced medicine in Reidsville from 1959 until his retirement in 1996, having opened his practice in Family Medicine in 1955. During his years in Reidsville, he was twice President of the Medical Staff of Annie Penn Hospital and Chief of Medicine; founder and first Chairman of Medical Ethics Committee, Annie Penn Hospital; Medical Director of Annie Penn Home Health Service until retirement; Medical Examiner for Rockingham and Caswell Counties until retirement. Dr. Mabe was a member of the Board of Directors for Rockingham County Department of Public Health from 2001 to 2008 and a member of the Board of Managers of Unified Home Care LLC from 2002 to 2005. He was also a past member of the Advisory Board, Greensboro AHEC, Greensboro. N.C.; a past member of the Advisory Committee, Allied Health, Rockingham Community College. While practicing family medicine, he also served as clinical instructor for Allied Health, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, and he served as a clinical preceptor for Duke University School of Medicine, Guilford County Technical Institute, UNC School of Medicine, and Wake Forest University School of Medicine. His professional memberships included AMA, Southern Medical Association, American Academy of Family Practice (charter member), North Carolina Medical Society and a past president of Rockingham County Medical Society. In his service to the community, he was Reidsville Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year in 1997 and received Chamber of Commerce Community Award in 1999. In 1998 he received the North Carolina Governor's Award and in 1999 the WFMY-TV "To Those Who Care" Award. In addition he received the Community Achievement Award from Zion Baptist Church in Reidsville, and was honored by the Rockingham County Department of Public Health in 2008 and the County Commissioners of Rockingham County. A former member of the Advisory Committee of the Piedmont Triad Government, he was also a former Board member of the Eastern Music Festival in Greensboro, as well as the Rockingham Community Concert Series and the Rockingham County Fine Arts Festival. He was a charter member and former member and vice chairman of the Human Relations Commission, City of Reidsville. Dr. Mabe was a member of First Baptist Church, Main Street, Reidsville, where he served many terms as a Deacon and was a former member of the church choir. He possessed a love for God's beautiful creation of wildlife and plants and flowers, as well as the mountains of his birthplace. He also found great joy in classical music, painting, and photography. In addition to his wife of 67 years, Grace A. Mabe, he is survived by a son, Alex Mabe (and wife, Kaye) of North Augusta, S.C.; a daughter, Carol Mabe Grantham (and husband, Eddie) of North Augusta, S.C.; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 13, 2012 at First Presbyterian Church, Main Street, Reidsville, N.C. with Dr. Bill Duke, Dr. David Moore, and the Rev. David Huggins officiating. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, October 12, 2012 at Wilkerson Funeral Home, Reidsville, N.C. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Free Clinic of Rockingham County, Inc., 315 S. Main Street, Reidsville, North Carolina 27320. Wilkerson Funeral Home is assisting the family and condolences may be sent to www.wilkersonfuneral.com.