 Margaret Elaine Wacaster Baldree, age 94, passed away on Sunday, January 3, 2021 at Testa Hospice House in Kings Mountain exactly one year to the day following the loss of her husband J.D. Baldree. Born in Cleveland County on June 28, 1926, she was the daughter of the late John Franklin Wacaster and Carrie Williams Wacaster. Margaret was the 1943 valedictorian of Waco High School and held the distinction of having the year's best scholastic record for any Cleveland County school graduate. She graduated from Gardner-Webb and Wake Forest Universities. Following graduation from Wake Forest Margaret was named director of religious education for the Williamston Memorial Baptist Church, where she met her husband J.D. She spent more than 35 years in public service with the state of North Carolina first as a social worker with the Martin County Department of Social Services and then as a 7th grade teacher with Shelby City Schools. She is the 2006-2007 recipient of the Jack Stickley Award for dedicated humanitarian services from the North Carolina Lions Foundation. She was a long-time member of First Baptist Church of Shelby, where she was a Sunday school teacher and member of the choir.
In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband J.D. Baldree and one sister Ruth Wacaster Toms.
Margaret is survived by two sons, Daniel Baldree of Charlotte and David Baldree of Orlando, FL, two grandchildren, Jessica Ivey and husband Rich of Boiling Springs and Meredith Heavner and husband Stacy of Shelby, NC as well as three great-grandchildren; Sam Baldree, Katelyn Ivey, Emma Heavner.
A private funeral service will be held with only family in attendance; however, Mrs. Baldree will lie in repose at Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home and Crematory from 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm on Wednesday, January 6, 2021 for those who wish to pay their respects and sign the guest registry. The family will not be present at this time. A memorial service will be planned for a future date.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Cleveland County, 951 Wendover Heights Drive, Shelby NC 28150.
Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family.
Guest Registry is available at www.cecilmburtonfuneralhome.com |
