Mrs. Martha Lane Forlines Forney, 98, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 2, at the Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice Home in Dobson, following a brief illness. Mrs. Forney, formerly of Lawndale and Shelby, was a resident of Mount Airy for the past six and-a-half years.

Mrs. Forney was born on May 23, 1920 in Alamance County to John A. and Nancy Hutchens Forlines. In 1922, she moved with her family to Durham, graduating from Durham High School in 1937 and Duke University in 1941. After graduation from Duke, she worked in the library at Duke until December of 1942 when she joined the U. S. Navy in the second class of W. A. V. E. S. (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) officers. She was promoted from Ensign to Lieutenant Junior Grade, then to Lieutenant Senior Grade before leaving the Navy in December of 1945. She served as a communications officer in both Charleston, SC, and Washington DC.

She was a retired elementary teacher with Cleveland County Schools.

Mrs. Forney was married for 47 years to Thomas Jacob Forney of Lawndale, who preceded her in death. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her sister, Ruth Dailey of Durham and her brother, John A. Forlines Jr. of Granite Falls.

Mrs. Forney is survived by her daughter, Alice Connolly and husband Alan of Mount Airy; her son, Thomas Jacob (Tommy) Forney Jr. of Shelby; a granddaughter, Julie Connolly Wall and husband Travis of Greensboro; a grandson, Rob Connolly of Los Angeles, CA; a great-granddaughter, Amelia Wall of Greensboro; and a number of beloved nieces and nephews. An active member of Westview Baptist Church in Shelby until 2012, Mrs. Forney was a former Deacon and Sunday School teacher. She was a member of Chicora Book Club and an avid reader. During her years as a resident of Lawndale, Mrs. Forney was an active member of Lawndale Baptist Church.

In June of 2012, Mrs. Forney moved from Shelby to the Ridgecrest Retirement Community in Mount Airy, where she lived until her death. She was a member of Central United Methodist Church during her years in Mount Airy.

A celebration of Mrs. Forney's life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 9, at Westview Baptist Church in Shelby with the Rev. Dr. Rick Bowling officiating. The family will receive friends at 1:00 p.m. at the church. A private family graveside service will be held at Sunset Cemetery.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, January 11 at Ridgecrest Retirement Community in Mount Airy with the Rev. Danny Miller officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Westview Baptist Church Fund, 500 Melody Lane, Shelby, NC 2815; Cleveland County Memorial Library, 104 Howie Drive, Shelby, NC 28150; Central United Methodist Church, 1909 N Main Street, Mount Airy, NC 27030; the Woltz Hospice Home, 945 Zephyr Road, Dobson, NC 27017; or the Mount Airy Public Library, 145 Rockford Street, Mount Airy, NC 27030.

The family wishes to thank the Ridgecrest staff and the staff of Livelong Wellcare for their wonderful care during the years Mrs. Forney lived at Ridgecrest. The family also wishes to thank the staff of the Woltz Hospice Home for their loving comfort during her final days.

Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home and Crematory of Shelby is serving the family of Mrs. Forney.

Guest Registry is available at www.cecilmburtonfuneralhome.com