Darrell McCurry went home to the Lord on Saturday, April 30, 2011.  She was born in Rutherford County to Zebulon Vance and Eva Walker Whitener, second oldest of seven children.  She had a happy, busy childhood growing up on a farm.  She always wanted to be a nurse, but graduated from Hollis High School in the midst of the Great Depression and there was no money for formal nursing training.  She worked taking care of elderly or sick people who needed home nursing care until her marriage to Howard McCurry.  

She was a wonderful wife and mother and an outstanding cook.  She and her husband, Howard, were always ready and willing to help anyone in the family or community who needed them.  She was a deeply devoted Christian and always very active in her church.  She studied the Bible daily and knew it thoroughly.  She taught Sunday school wherever she attended church.  She loved babies and children and was very involved in their church programs.  She was an unashamed witness for Jesus Christ wherever she went, even to the end of her life.  She was most recently a member of Lattimore Baptist Church.

Her parents, her husband, Howard McCurry, two brothers, Armond Whitener and John Whitener, and one sister, Maude Whitener Campbell, preceded her in death.  She is survived by her sisters Nancy Melton, Goldie McSwain (Alton), and Grace Noel Powell (James).  Her children are Jackie McCurry Clay (John), David McCurry (Sylvia), Arnold McCurry (Debbie) and Nina McCurry (Kathryn).  Her grandchildren are Lisa Clay Lacroix (Christian), Mark Clay (Jennifer), Melissa McCurry, Tricia Patrick (Ben), Nicky Pendley (Jeff), and Kylie Clark (Randy).  She had 13 great grandchildren, 5 great-great grandchildren, and 1 great-great-great grandchild.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00pm on Wednesday, May 4, 2011 at the Chapel of Cecil M Burton Funeral Home.  Burial will follow at Cleveland Memorial Park.  The Rev. Joe Edwards will be officiating.  The family will receive friends from 1:00 – 2:00pm prior to the service at Cecil M Burton Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to Life Enrichment Center, 110 Life Enrichment Blvd., Shelby, NC 28150.

Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home is serving the family of Mrs. McCurry.

Guest Registry is available at www.cecilmburtonfuneralhome.com