Martha Lois Dorsett "Sybil" Ritchie

Martha Lois Dorsett "Sybil" Ritchie

SALISBURY - Martha Lois Dorsett "Sybil" Ritchie, 86, died Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010, at her home.

Born April 2, 1924, in Siler City, she was the daughter of the late Addison Diff Dorsett, Sr. and Mary Lois Jordan Dorsett.

She was educated in the Greensboro and Salisbury City schools and graduated from Boyden High School, Class of 1942. She attended Woman's College, Greensboro majoring in Sociology and Psychology.

Her early work included being associated with City Motor Company, Rowan County Tax Office and Juvenile Delinquency work in Greensboro.

She was a member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Episcopal Church Women, served as a Sunday school teacher, on the Alter Guild, and as a Cub Scout Den Mother. She was a member of the Junior Women Club, YMCA, Co-leader of the Cancer Drive and Cancer Golf Tourney, Meal's on Wheels, collected food for the Soup Kitchen, member of the Ladies Golf Association, Salisbury Country Club, McGuffies Book Club and the Tuesday Bridge Club.

She enjoyed Bridge, Regular Monday and Thursday Game, Golf at the Salisbury Country Club and had Regular Monday Foursome. For 34 years - Badweather Player Bridge, played in many Ladies Day Tourneys at the Country Club and won a few. She won 2 Edgar Welch Tourney's (with partner), loved to play Mountain and Beach Golf Course's, played in many Scotch Foursome at the Country Club, spent many summers at Wrightsville Beach with family and friends, later she had her own home at Sunset Beach where she enjoyed swimming, walking on the beach and entertaining family and friends

Also she was fond of time in the mountains, hiking, picnicking with family in Blowing Rock, Boone, Highland and Flatrock.

Gardening was a big interest with Daylilies, a plant of which she had a yard full of special varieties. Sybil loved cooking for her family and friends; she was interested in protecting the environment in every way possible.

Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, J. C. Ritchie, whom she married June 30, 1944; sons, John C. Ritchie, Jr. and wife, Micki of Knoxville, Tenn.; step-grandson, Andy Bryant and wife, Celeste and step great-grandson, Jacob; Jeffery Diff Ritchie and wife, Georgia Schley Ritchie of Atlanta, Ga.; and grandchildren, Addison, India and Tallulah Schley Ritchie.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, A. D. Dorsett, Jr.

Service: Memorial service will be conducted 2 p.m. Monday at St. Luke's Episcopal Church with the Rev. Whayne M. Hougland, Jr., officiating.

Visitation: The family will receive friends following the service in the Church Parrish Hall.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 131 W. Council St., Salisbury, NC 28144, Rowan Regional Hospice, 720 Grove St., Salisbury, NC 28144 or the charity of the donor's choice.

Summersett Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be made at www.summersettfuneralhome.com.