Mrs. Mary Catherine Hairston Foy, 93, passed away peacefully at her home with her family by her side on Sunday, December 16, 2018. She was born on August 9, 1925 to the late John William Hairston and Nannie Gibson Hairston in Walnut Cove, NC. Mrs. Foy, affectionately known as "Cat", attended the Walnut Cove Colored School and was a proud graduate and class salutatorian of George Washington Carver High School in Winston-Salem, NC. She graduated from Winston-Salem Teacher's College (now Winston-Salem State University) with a Bachelor's Degree in Education. While there, she was initiated as a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and played on the basketball team. She later earned a Master's Degree in Education from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in 1962.

Mrs. Foy was employed as a teacher by the Stokes County Board of Education from 1950 until her retirement in 1987. After a brief period of employment as a teacher at Dry Hollow School, Mrs. Foy commuted daily from Winston-Salem to her hometown to teach at London High School and the Walnut Cove Intermediate School. Her primary focus was science and math for fifth and sixth grades. She also served in other capacities at Walnut Cove Intermediate, including being the school Treasurer, occasionally driving school buses, and coaching basketball teams. She was intensely concerned with the well-being of her students. Her unique combination of nurturing her students while maintaining high expectations and often sharing her home with commuting students, was exceptional.

Mary Catherine's faith in God was at the center of her life. As a lifelong and faithful member of St. Mary's United Methodist Church in Walnut Cove, she would nurture her spiritual development by serving in various roles, including the church choir, Trustee Board Chair, Treasurer, and as a member of the United Methodist Women and Pastor Parrish Committee. Mrs. Foy also was devoted to the Walnut Cove community throughout her life, and was involved in the restoration of the old Walnut Cove Colored School Colored School building. The building now serves as the Walnut Cove Senior Center and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1959, Mary married Oscar L. Foy, Jr. of Winston-Salem. Their union lasted 47 years until his death in 2007. To this union two daughters were produced and raised in The Carver Lake Estates community.

Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by all of her siblings: Flossie H. Pettie, Leon Hairston, Annie Elizabeth H. Hairston, Eugene Hairston, Evelyn Virginia H. Davis, Dorothy H. Dalton, Dorsie Hairston, Clarence Hairston and Lawrence "John Lawrence" Hairston.

This brief chronology cannot begin to capture the positive and lasting impact that Mary Catherine Hairston Foy had on so many individuals on so many levels. As she looks on us from heaven, those who continue and cherish her legacy include her daughters, Dr. Capri G. Foy of Winston-Salem and Lorri A. Foy of the home; many nieces and nephews who adored their "Aunt Cat"; and a host of cousins, relatives, extended family, former students, wonderful neighbors and friends.

The family will receive friends from 10:30am to 11:00am at St. Mary's United Methodist Church, 412 Brook Street, Walnut Cove, N.C. on Saturday, December 22, 2018. The funeral will begin at 11:00 am. Burial follows at Fairview Cemetery in Walnut Cove.

For a copy of the funeral program, click here