Mary Forrest Westmoreland

Mrs. Mary Rose Forrest Westmoreland passed peacefully on Wednesday morning, September 21, 2016. She is survived by her daughters Deborah Hawkins Presnell and husband Edwin of Augusta, Ga., M. Denise Hawkins and friend, Billy Williams of Palm Bay, Fla., grandsons, MSG John Howell and wife Devin, son Grayson of Ft. Mitchell, Ala., Joshua Howell, wife Amanda, children Deanna, Liam and Finley of Greensboro, NC, granddaughter Donna Yarborough Jones of Milton, Fla. and her children, Rachel, Thomas and Kevin, stepson, Charles Gary (Butch) Westmoreland of Monroe, NC and his family, sister, Mrs. Libby Shelton and sister­in­law, Mrs. Ruth Forrest of Greensboro, NC, and an untold number of nieces and nephews. The family is especially thankful to Ms. Trudy Herring for her care and friendship to Mary over the last three years. Preceding her in death are husbands John D. Hawkins, Troy F. Westmoreland and A.B. Caviness, ten older siblings and a younger brother. Mary was affectionately known as Tootsie to her family and Didget to her second husband, Troy. She was voted most athletic at Alamance High School where she played on a championship basketball team and played catcher on the softball team at Jefferson Pilot where she was employed before marrying John and coming to Asheboro. Following John's death in 1960, she graduated with the first class of LPN's at Randolph Industrial Education Center in 1964. She faithfully attended Balfour Baptist Church for most of her life. She was a petite dynamo who could feed and clothe an army. She always maintained a large garden and fished with husband Troy, and filled freezer and cellar with the harvest. We were blessed to have been at her table. An excellent seamstress, she made our clothes, cushion covers and drapes, and even poodle skirts for the women of the square dance club. When Mr. Westmoreland became a stroke victim, she nursed him at their home for ten years (1973­-1983) returning to work at the Randolph County Health Dept. after his passing. After eight and a half years she retired from the health dept. and she and Mr. Caviness, her last husband, enjoyed travelling to all fifty states including Alaska and Hawaii, taking bus trips with Balfour Baptist Church and participating in the myriad activities of the local square dance group, the Smiling Squares. Visitation will be held at Pugh Funeral Home on Friday, September 23 at 12:00 pm with service at 1:30 pm in the Chapel. Burial will follow in Randolph Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to Autism Speaks of NC and Florida