Christine Blythe

Christine Blythe
Miss Blythe passed away peacefully in the house in which she was born nearly 91 years earlier on Friday evening, September 22, 2006. Though she had no children of her own, she touched the lives of many young people during more than 40 years of teaching in the public schools of Gaston and Mecklenburg Counties.
Christine and her twin sister, Josephine, were born at the Blythe homeplace near Huntersville on November 4, 1915, to John Clifford and Mary Estelle Bailes Blythe. They joined older brothers Halley and Paul, and would later become big sisters to J.C.
Christine was a lifelong member of the Gilead Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, where she served for many years as pianist and helped each summer with Vacation Bible School. She was a member of the Minnie Alexander Circle.
After graduating from Huntersville High School in 1933, Christine attended Erskine College in Due West, SC, from which she graduated in 1937 with an A.B. in French. While at Erskine, she was active in student government, music, and athletics.
In the Fall of 1937, Miss Blythe began her career teaching fifth grade at East Gastonia School. After five years in Gastonia, in the Fall of 1942, she moved to the Charlotte School System, teaching sixth grade at Bethune School. In 1954, she moved to the new Sedgefield Elementary School, teaching fifth and sixth grade there for more than 20 years. She spent her last years of teaching at Cornelius Elementary School, retiring in 1978.
Christine was a long-time member of the Alexandriana Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, and of the Kappa Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma professional organization for women educators.
Christine was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Halley and wife, Katie Belle McLean Blythe, Paul, and J.C.; a nephew, Mack Blythe; a niece, Barbara Blythe Chavers; and her close friend, Katherine Westmoreland.
She is survived by her twin sister, Josephine and husband, J.W. Kidd, and by sisters-in-law, Nan Lee Wilhelm Blythe and Helen Johnson Blythe, all of Huntersville. Her surviving nieces and nephews are Sandra Blythe Edens and husband, Edgar, of Red Springs, NC, Bailes Blythe and wife, Saundra Ammons Blythe, Mary Blythe Jones and husband, Ralf Jones, and Harriet Kidd Spry McKenzie and husband, Jerry McKenzie, all of Huntersville, and John Blythe of Abbeville, SC. Also surviving are Doris Howard Blythe and Ned D. Chavers, and many great nephews, great nieces, and cousins.
Visitation will be 5:00-7:00 PM Sunday, September 24, at Raymer Funeral Home. The service will be at Gilead A. R. Presbyterian Church at 2:00 PM on Monday, September 25, with burial in the church cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Gilead A.R.P. Church, 15303 Beatties ford Road, Huntersville, NC 28078; Erskine College, Due West, SC 29639, for the Blythe Family Leadership Award; or to another charity of one's choice.
Raymer Funeral Home of Huntersville is in charge.