Abigail McAuley Close Fletcher Grant

GREENSBORO, NC- Mrs. Abigail McAuley Close Fletcher Grant died peacefully on Monday, February 8, 2010 after many years of battling Alzheimer's disease. She was 89.

Mrs. Grant was born on October 11, 1920 at Island Magee, County Antrim, Northern Ireland to Captain William John Close and his wife, Anne Ross Close. She moved to the United States the following year with her family. She was an only child but had a lifelong friendship with her double first cousin; Mrs. Margaret Close Strickland of Westlake Village, Calif. Mrs. Grant was raised in Leonia, N.J. and was a member of the Leonia High School graduating Class of 1939. In 1943, she received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Beaver College of Jenkintown, Pa. where she was a member of the Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority. Her exceptional art ability allowed her to work as an artist for the Norcross Greeting Card Company of New York, N.Y. after college.

For most of her life, Mrs. Grant lived in Virginia Beach, Va. and enjoyed vacationing at her summer home in Wolfeboro, NH. Her family moved her to Greensboro ten years ago in order to provide care for accelerating stages of Alzheimer's disease. Prior to the onset of Alzheimer's disease, Mrs. Grant lived a full and active life. She was an avid golfer and member of the Princess Anne Country Club, Kingswood Golf Club and Bald Peak Colony Club. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Virginia Beach. She was also a member of the Bay Colony Garden Club of Virginia Beach and was a volunteer at Virginia Beach General Hospital. She enjoyed playing bridge and mahjong with her many friends.

She was married to Mr. Lester L. Fletcher on December 15, 1945 after he returned from service with the United States Marine Corp during World War II. The two were happily married for 34 years until his sudden passing in 1980.

Her second marriage was in 1989 to the Honorable Donald R. Grant of Wolfeboro, NH, who predeceased her in 2008. She is also preceded in death by her son, Mr. Scott Cummings Fletcher, Sr. and a grandson, Mr. Derek Ross Fletcher.

She is survived by her daughter, son-in-law and daughter-in-law and four grandchildren: Mrs. Margaret Fletcher McIntosh and her husband, Mr. Richard L. McIntosh and their two children, Mr. Robert Fletcher McIntosh and Mrs. Melissa McIntosh Flanagan; and Mrs. Barbara May Fletcher and her two sons, Mr. Scott Cummings Fletcher, Jr. and Mr. Jonathan Drew Fletcher. She is also survived by eight great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday evening from 5 -7 p.m. at H.D. Oliver Funeral Home 2002 Laskin Road Virginia Beach, Va.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday at 2 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Virginia Beach, 300 36th Street, Virginia Beach, Va.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 17, Chicago, IL 60601-7633 or Hospice and Palliative Care of Greensboro, 2500 Summit Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27405.

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