Ms. Mary Florence "Cookie" McCollum

Mary F. McCollum, 71, of Raleigh, NC was born in Bennettsville, SC on May 3, 1948, to Ida Mae Campbell and Arthur McCollum Sr. She passed away on March 28, 2020, in Raleigh, NC. She was educated in the Richmond County School system. Mary retired from North Carolina State University in 2013 after many years of service in the housekeeping department where she was well loved by her co-workers and students alike. She was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ in Raleigh, NC and was both loved and well respected in her community. Mary had a passion for cooking, learning new technology, online shopping and a lifelong passion for jigsaw puzzles, word puzzles and sudoku. Mary is preceded in death by her mother Ida Mae Campbell, her father Arthur McCollum Sr., her brothers June Campbell, and Arthur McCollum Jr., niece Marion Dockery, and her life partner Clarence Watkins Sr. She leaves to mourn daughters Annie Delores McCollum and Paula Cheryl McCollum of Raleigh, and son Iden (Beverly) Campbell McCollum of Portland, OR. Special nieces Audrey Green McCollum and her husband Kenny of Whiteside, PA, and Denise McLaurin Brower and her husband Johnny of Greensboro. She is also survived by 6-grandchildren, 6-great grandchildren, and several other nieces and nephews and a host of cousins. She is also survived by her stepchildren (Clarence Watkins Sr.) Cynthia Watkins of Garner, Sherrie Watkins of Raleigh, Terrie Watkins of Raleigh, Clarence Watkins Jr. and his wife Charlene of Franklin, Patricia W. Stewart and her husband Jeff of Wendell, and Stephen Watkins (d. 2002) and 26 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren Funeral services are private and will be held at the graveside. A memorial service will be planned at a time allowed due to the national health crisis at the Church of Jesus Christ in Raleigh. Memorial gifts in memory of Mary may be made to her church of membership at churchofjesuschrist.org.