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Pauline Harris Duncan began her heavenly walk with Jesus on April 16, 2015.
Pauline was the youngest of six children, born May 21, 1932, to Swannie Braxton and William Paul Harris in Snow Camp, N.C. She lost her mother at the early age of 12, and found solace and support from her close relatives, particularly her nieces, Mary Frances Harris Ferree and Joann Harris Voss, with whom she remained close until death.
Pauline was a loving and caring person with a strong Christian faith. Church and family were the significant focus of her life. She raised four children, Richard Duncan (Sharon), Susan Duncan Bumgarner (Steve), Carol Duncan Clayton (Dwight) and Michelle Webb (Rob).
At her death, she had seven grandchildren, Andrew, Anna, Jessica, Will, Daniel, Madison, and Abi; and eight great-grandchildren, Chloe, Loralye, Trystn, Kayleigh, Lexi, Michael, Nikki and Avery; and a beloved dog, Star.
She hosted two exchange students, Brigette Passedoit Pissot from France and Angel Xolocotzi Yanez from Mexico City, whom she treated like her own. Mom loved her family and extended family - spouses, in-laws, partners, exchange students, foster and respite grandchildren, all of those in the wide circle who called her "Mamaw Honey" were affected by and blessed with her plain words combined with her unconditional love.
Pauline was actively engaged in life. She and her devoted husband, Avery, spent most of their adult life together in the Wilkes County Community of Millers Creek where they were active members of Millers Creek Baptist Church. Family life revolved around their family, church and friends.
In 2010, Avery and Pauline moved to the Twin Lakes Retirement Community in Burlington, N.C. This move was most difficult for Pauline, giving up their beloved hand-built mountain home and church community was not easy for her. However, she quickly became engaged in Twin Lakes Community life and found a church family in Grove Park Baptist Church. Pauline enthusiastically became active with her husband, Avery, in all aspects of Twin Lake's life, ensuring that Avery, suffering with dementia, had every opportunity to be involved and social - visiting neighbors, taking walks and exercise classes, participating in social outings and movie nights, and experimenting with art classes. They were champion corn hole team members!
Pauline was quite the artist and traveler. She travelled the North American continent with Avery, and even went to Italy on a "girls" trip with her youngest daughter.
Pauline also loved the arts and music. She loved painting and her family is blessed with her paintings as long lasting threads of her creative spirit and zest for the arts. Over the years, she hand-crafted many items - from sewing fashionable clothes for her growing teenage girls, to needle crafting, quilting, making Chrismon ornaments, gourd decorations, and painting. She also loved music - playing the piano by ear, and loved gardening, especially flowers and decorating. All of her children benefited from her green thumb, her love of decorating and design, and her creations and creativity. No project was too big for Pauline and Avery to tackle on behalf of their children.
Pauline was so full of life and its blessings she decided to write a book of her life. Aptly titled "Lest I Forget," this autobiography was published in 2013. She experienced life to its fullest and wanted to record her experiences and blessings so as not to be forgotten. Included in her book, was a poem she wrote at the birth of each grandchild and great-grandchild, marking their arrival to earth and expressing her love and blessing.
She will best be remembered as a loving and caring mother and wife, a good and generous friend, a Christian with strong faith, and a great equalizer across race, culture and socioeconomic status. We were blessed to have had her in our lives. She will not be forgotten.
A memorial service will be held in the Twin Lakes Chapel, Burlington, N.C., on April 27 at 11 a.m. (receiving at 10 a.m.) followed by a graveside service on April 28 at 11 a.m. at Mount Lawn Cemetery in Wilkesboro, N.C.
Donations to Hospice of Alamance County, in lieu of flowers, may be made at www.hospiceac.org or by mail to 914 Chapel Hill Road, Burlington, NC 27215.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
1 Entry
My heart goes out to the Duncan family during this most difficult time, for the deep loss you must be feeling. May you find comfort in prayer and gain strength knowing that the true God hears your prayers.
Jeremiah 29:12, 13 and that he feels your pain Zechariah 2:8
Deepest sympathy
April 26, 2015
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