Rieta Latch Maxwell, 94, of Shelby, North Carolina passed away on Saturday, August 27, 2022.

Rieta was fondly known as "Petie" to her friends and "Gam" to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Born on May 3, 1928 in Washington, DC, she was the daughter of the late Maria Van-Der Vies Latch and the Reverend Edward G. Latch.

Rieta was a graduate of the University of Maryland and a loyal Terrapin fan. She relocated to Shelby in 1995. Rieta loved and treasured her dogs. Each one was considered family and filled her life with companionship and endless hours of joy. She enjoyed playing and watching a good round of golf, and she was an avid fan of both college and NFL football. Rieta was a kind and loving spirit who was always thinking of others before herself. She was loved by the many friends she came to know during her lifetime. She made numerous friendships through her employment at Bradley Hills Nursery School, Emily's On the Square, Waldenbooks and Hallmark, as well as her volunteer service at Cleveland Regional Medical Center, The Hospice Store and the Meals on Wheels program. Rieta was also a member of Cleveland Country Club and Cleveland County Reader's Club.

She enjoyed her time spent at the beaches of the Carolinas, but her favorite place was Capon Springs, West Virginia where she and her entire family spent yearly vacations for over 70 years. She not only felt whole at Capon Springs, but it became her place of peace and tranquility. Her love and adoration for Capon has been passed down to the generations of her family and will continue for the generations to come.

Rieta was predeceased by her husband Dallas Sutton Maxwell, Sr., a brother Edward G. Latch, Jr., and her son-in-law W. Robinson Deaton, Jr. Left to
cherish her memory, she is survived by her daughters, Ann M. Deaton of Asheville, NC (formerly of Shelby), Judy McCoy of Montgomery, IL, and Dallas Sutton Maxwell, Jr., of Myrtle Beach, SC; her grandchildren, W. Robinson Deaton, III (Robbie) of Asheville, NC, Jason McCoy and wife Kathryn of Sugar Grove, IL, Shannon Myers and husband Jason of Columbus, OH, Dallas Sutton Maxwell, III and wife Danielle of Myrtle Beach, SC, Justin Maxwell and wife Maria of Charlotte, NC, Cameron Maxwell and wife Brittany of Charlotte, NC; great-grandchildren, Conner Maxwell, Maxwell McCoy, Gavin Maxwell, Jack Myers, Micah Deaton, Charlotte Maxwell, Everett Maxwell, and Sebastian Maxwell. Also left to cherish her memory is Rieta's "granddaughter by heart" Shannon Chapman who provided endless hours of comfort and caring during Rieta's last days.

The family will receive friends to honor the life of Mrs. Maxwell Saturday, November 19, 2022 at Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home from 11:00AM - 12:00PM with closing words of remembrance at 12PM. Burial will be held at Sunset Cemetery in Shelby, NC.

Maxwell's family would like to thank the staff of White Oak Manor in Kings Mountain, North Carolina and Hospice Cleveland County for the great care Rieta was given during her stay.

Memorial donations may be made in Rieta's memory to Clifford's Army Rescue, PO Box 370, Earl, NC 28038 and/or Hospice Cleveland County, 951 Wendover Heights Drive, Shelby, NC 28150.

Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home & Crematory is servicing the family.
Online condolences may be made at www.cecilmburtonfuneralhome.com