Mary Elizabeth Mayo Stenger

NEWPORT NEWS - Mary Elizabeth Mayo Stenger, 78, died at home, peacefully in her sleep, in Newport News, Virginia on August 20, 2014. Born August 7th, 1936, in Nansemond County, Virginia, she graduated from Chuckatuck High School in 1953 and Longwood College with a degree in education in 1957. She was an elementary school teacher in Richmond, Virginia, a member of the Pocahontas Chapter of the American Colonists and an active alumni of what would become Longwood University. She was married to Roland Lee Stenger until his death in 2005. She was a painter, a craftsperson, and a prodigious crochet artist who estimated around 3.5 million crochet stitches in her life. The majority of her hats, scarves, and lap robes went to hospitals for veterans and cancer patients, and organizations which help homeless and at-risk youth. She is survived by three daughters: Kelly Crockett, Karen Overbey, and Tracey Seal and six grandchildren: Holly, Kasey, and Dylan Blowe; Schuylar and Blake Overbey; and Elizabeth Ryan Seal. She leaves behind sister-in-law Joanne Gayle, a brother, Tommy Mayo, and many nieces, nephews and friends who loved her dearly. There will be a brief memorial at the cemetery of Saint Luke's Church in Smithfield, VA on September 6th at 1:00 p.m. The family will receive those would like to celebrate her life at the home of her daughter Kelly Crockett afterwards until 4:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the organization Mary designated-The Together We Can Foundation (5101 Cleveland Street, Suite 305, Virginia Beach, VA 23462 or online at www.twcfoundation.org).