Fay Evelyn Featherston was the ninth of ten children born to Richard Craig Benjamin Featherston (1876-1953) and his wife Pallie Cicero Layton (1883-1949). Her paternal grandparents were Joseph Featherson and his wife Mollie Naegle; and her maternal grandparents were Green Layton and his wife Elizabeth Kirk. Fay was born in Stanly County, either the 30th or 31st October 1920 (her mother said one thing, her birth certificate said another). Her family moved to Belmont, Gaston Co., NC when she was a baby.

Fay was a devout Christian and a Southern Baptist. She devoted her life to serving the Lord, and this devotion lead her into a career in nursing where she could serve mankind. She was trained as a nurse prior to the beginning of the second World War, and when war broke out, she enlisted in the Army Nures' Corps. In 1947, she came to Marion, NC, where she would live for the remainder of her life.

While chief obstetrical nurse at the Marion General Hospital, Fay often assisted Dr. George Catlett Rowe (1913-1981) in delivering babies. After the tragic death of his first wife, Dr. Rowe was left a widower, and he fell in love with Fay. They were married in Marion on 21 Oct. 1956. They continued delivering babies in Marion (the present writer included) for over 20 years. While George and Fay had no children together, she cared from his son from his previous marriage as if he had been her own.

Fay was very active in her Church, the First Baptist Church of Marion, and she was also very active in the community. Fay was named "Woman of the Year" in Marion several times, in recognition of her service to the town. She was a deacon in her Church, and involved with many young people's activities there, including the GA's. She established the Marion General Hospital Ladies' Auxillary, and the Candy Stripers. She belonged to the Marion Gaden Club.

Fay and George planted the gardens around the home he had built on Nancy Tolley Hill with beautiful flowers, and they raised orchids and carnations in a greenhouse. The also raised tropical fish, and had a series of black Cocker Spaniels as companions. Their home was a place of gracious beauty, generous hospitality, filled with love.

Fay was a beautiful person, both outside and within. The love and caring she shared with those she encountered in life were never stinting. She lived a life of Christian duty and service.... a life that was a great example of a Christian soldier, marching onward, despite all adversity and tragedy. And now she's gone Home, to kneel at the feet of her Savior, and hear the words "Well done, good and faithful servant."

I had the great blessing and honor of knowing Fay from the day she and Dr. George delivered me. They were my Godparents, and Fay was my mother's best friend. While my heart is broken over losing her, I must rejoice for her. She's gone to accept the reward of a long life, well lived, and is now reunited with all those she loved most in this life. And she has reached out to find that the hand that grasps hers in welcome belongs to Jesus.