Wanda Mack
Wanda Mack, 40, of Jacksonville, died March 15 at Duke University Medical Center in Durham. Funeral services will be at 4 p.m. Monday at Jones Funeral Home chapel in Jacksonville with the Rev. Robert Bauman officiating. Burial will follow at Onslow Memorial Park.
She was a third grade teacher at Parkwood Elementary School.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Doris Battle Hardison.
Surviving are her husband,; a son; her father, Cecil Hardison Sr. of Richlands; maternal grandmother, Helen Battle of Jacksonville; paternal grandmother, Eunice Fisher of Jacksonville; and two brothers, Cecil Hardison Jr. of Trenton and brother.
The family will receive visitors 7 to 9 tonight at the funeral home.
Donations may be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Teacher's passing mourned
Mack expressed love to everyone she knew
When attending a funeral, most people wear black.
And most people wouldn't dream of donning flashy colors like, say, lime green.
But at Monday's memorial service for Wanda Mack, 40, a longtime third-grade teacher at Parkwood Elementary School,who died from cancer last week, lime green was everywhere.
Lime green posters with pictures of Mack posing with her family and students surrounded her casket. There were lime green blouses, ponytail holders and hand-made ribbons held together by tiny hearts.
The color was worn mostly by Mack's students and colleagues as a tribute to their friend and mentor who loved the vibrant hue.
It was doubly appropriate because, to hear her friends and family tell it, Mack wasn't "most people".
Her love for her family, friends, students and God knew no bounds. Mack's equally limitless supply of energy allowed her to express that love in ways that endeared her to nearly everyone she knew.
"I wouldn't be surprised at all if she was shopping in heaven's mall right now or making a list for the things she needed to do for all the people up there" Mack's youngest brother, told the the standing-room-only crowd at Jones Funeral Home on Monday afternoon.
Much of that energy was directed at doing all she could for her students. For her efforts, Mack was awarded the Onslow County Teacher of the Year award for the 1999-2000 school year. She also earned the adoration of countless 8 and 9 year-olds.
"She loved them, and they all knew it" the Rev. said. "And not just with a warm, fuzzy, sentimental love but with a love that expected their level best".
Rev. said her inspiring personality made it that much tougher to let go. He advised those mourning to cling to happy memories of Mack and to their faith as they battled grief.
He told of how Wanda's husband sat at her bedside at a Duke University hospital last week. As she succumbed to her disease, had imaginary conversations with her loved ones as her husband listened.
At the end of each one, she would say "Remember now, I love you, and God loves you too".
"Perhaps those words are the ones that best encapsulate who Wanda was", Rev said. "They are the words that I believe she leaves with all of us today."
Hardison said he was comforted by the knowledge that his sister no longer suffers. "Just thinking that she no longer has the pain helps," he said.
"And remembering how she always was laughing helps even more. Now, heaven is one sweet soul sweeter."
As is customary at many Christian funerals, the pastor read Psalm 23 midway through the service.
The familiar message reads, in part, "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures."
For all those present Monday whose lives were touched by Mack, it likely was comforting to imagine her, now free of pain, relaxing in a green pasture.
Lime green, that is.
Published in The Jacksonville Daily News, Jacksonville, North Carolina
*Names of the living have been omitted from this article.
Wanda Mack, 40, of Jacksonville, died March 15 at Duke University Medical Center in Durham. Funeral services will be at 4 p.m. Monday at Jones Funeral Home chapel in Jacksonville with the Rev. Robert Bauman officiating. Burial will follow at Onslow Memorial Park.
She was a third grade teacher at Parkwood Elementary School.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Doris Battle Hardison.
Surviving are her husband,; a son; her father, Cecil Hardison Sr. of Richlands; maternal grandmother, Helen Battle of Jacksonville; paternal grandmother, Eunice Fisher of Jacksonville; and two brothers, Cecil Hardison Jr. of Trenton and brother.
The family will receive visitors 7 to 9 tonight at the funeral home.
Donations may be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Teacher's passing mourned
Mack expressed love to everyone she knew
When attending a funeral, most people wear black.
And most people wouldn't dream of donning flashy colors like, say, lime green.
But at Monday's memorial service for Wanda Mack, 40, a longtime third-grade teacher at Parkwood Elementary School,who died from cancer last week, lime green was everywhere.
Lime green posters with pictures of Mack posing with her family and students surrounded her casket. There were lime green blouses, ponytail holders and hand-made ribbons held together by tiny hearts.
The color was worn mostly by Mack's students and colleagues as a tribute to their friend and mentor who loved the vibrant hue.
It was doubly appropriate because, to hear her friends and family tell it, Mack wasn't "most people".
Her love for her family, friends, students and God knew no bounds. Mack's equally limitless supply of energy allowed her to express that love in ways that endeared her to nearly everyone she knew.
"I wouldn't be surprised at all if she was shopping in heaven's mall right now or making a list for the things she needed to do for all the people up there" Mack's youngest brother, told the the standing-room-only crowd at Jones Funeral Home on Monday afternoon.
Much of that energy was directed at doing all she could for her students. For her efforts, Mack was awarded the Onslow County Teacher of the Year award for the 1999-2000 school year. She also earned the adoration of countless 8 and 9 year-olds.
"She loved them, and they all knew it" the Rev. said. "And not just with a warm, fuzzy, sentimental love but with a love that expected their level best".
Rev. said her inspiring personality made it that much tougher to let go. He advised those mourning to cling to happy memories of Mack and to their faith as they battled grief.
He told of how Wanda's husband sat at her bedside at a Duke University hospital last week. As she succumbed to her disease, had imaginary conversations with her loved ones as her husband listened.
At the end of each one, she would say "Remember now, I love you, and God loves you too".
"Perhaps those words are the ones that best encapsulate who Wanda was", Rev said. "They are the words that I believe she leaves with all of us today."
Hardison said he was comforted by the knowledge that his sister no longer suffers. "Just thinking that she no longer has the pain helps," he said.
"And remembering how she always was laughing helps even more. Now, heaven is one sweet soul sweeter."
As is customary at many Christian funerals, the pastor read Psalm 23 midway through the service.
The familiar message reads, in part, "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures."
For all those present Monday whose lives were touched by Mack, it likely was comforting to imagine her, now free of pain, relaxing in a green pasture.
Lime green, that is.
Published in The Jacksonville Daily News, Jacksonville, North Carolina
*Names of the living have been omitted from this article.
Wanda Mack
Wanda Mack, 40, of Jacksonville, died March 15 at Duke University Medical Center in Durham. Funeral services will be at 4 p.m. Monday at Jones Funeral Home chapel in Jacksonville with the Rev. Robert Bauman officiating. Burial will follow at Onslow Memorial Park.
She was a third grade teacher at Parkwood Elementary School.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Doris Battle Hardison.
Surviving are her husband,; a son; her father, Cecil Hardison Sr. of Richlands; maternal grandmother, Helen Battle of Jacksonville; paternal grandmother, Eunice Fisher of Jacksonville; and two brothers, Cecil Hardison Jr. of Trenton and brother.
The family will receive visitors 7 to 9 tonight at the funeral home.
Donations may be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Teacher's passing mourned
Mack expressed love to everyone she knew
When attending a funeral, most people wear black.
And most people wouldn't dream of donning flashy colors like, say, lime green.
But at Monday's memorial service for Wanda Mack, 40, a longtime third-grade teacher at Parkwood Elementary School,who died from cancer last week, lime green was everywhere.
Lime green posters with pictures of Mack posing with her family and students surrounded her casket. There were lime green blouses, ponytail holders and hand-made ribbons held together by tiny hearts.
The color was worn mostly by Mack's students and colleagues as a tribute to their friend and mentor who loved the vibrant hue.
It was doubly appropriate because, to hear her friends and family tell it, Mack wasn't "most people".
Her love for her family, friends, students and God knew no bounds. Mack's equally limitless supply of energy allowed her to express that love in ways that endeared her to nearly everyone she knew.
"I wouldn't be surprised at all if she was shopping in heaven's mall right now or making a list for the things she needed to do for all the people up there" Mack's youngest brother, told the the standing-room-only crowd at Jones Funeral Home on Monday afternoon.
Much of that energy was directed at doing all she could for her students. For her efforts, Mack was awarded the Onslow County Teacher of the Year award for the 1999-2000 school year. She also earned the adoration of countless 8 and 9 year-olds.
"She loved them, and they all knew it" the Rev. said. "And not just with a warm, fuzzy, sentimental love but with a love that expected their level best".
Rev. said her inspiring personality made it that much tougher to let go. He advised those mourning to cling to happy memories of Mack and to their faith as they battled grief.
He told of how Wanda's husband sat at her bedside at a Duke University hospital last week. As she succumbed to her disease, had imaginary conversations with her loved ones as her husband listened.
At the end of each one, she would say "Remember now, I love you, and God loves you too".
"Perhaps those words are the ones that best encapsulate who Wanda was", Rev said. "They are the words that I believe she leaves with all of us today."
Hardison said he was comforted by the knowledge that his sister no longer suffers. "Just thinking that she no longer has the pain helps," he said.
"And remembering how she always was laughing helps even more. Now, heaven is one sweet soul sweeter."
As is customary at many Christian funerals, the pastor read Psalm 23 midway through the service.
The familiar message reads, in part, "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures."
For all those present Monday whose lives were touched by Mack, it likely was comforting to imagine her, now free of pain, relaxing in a green pasture.
Lime green, that is.
Published in The Jacksonville Daily News, Jacksonville, North Carolina
*Names of the living have been omitted from this article.
Wanda Mack, 40, of Jacksonville, died March 15 at Duke University Medical Center in Durham. Funeral services will be at 4 p.m. Monday at Jones Funeral Home chapel in Jacksonville with the Rev. Robert Bauman officiating. Burial will follow at Onslow Memorial Park.
She was a third grade teacher at Parkwood Elementary School.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Doris Battle Hardison.
Surviving are her husband,; a son; her father, Cecil Hardison Sr. of Richlands; maternal grandmother, Helen Battle of Jacksonville; paternal grandmother, Eunice Fisher of Jacksonville; and two brothers, Cecil Hardison Jr. of Trenton and brother.
The family will receive visitors 7 to 9 tonight at the funeral home.
Donations may be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Teacher's passing mourned
Mack expressed love to everyone she knew
When attending a funeral, most people wear black.
And most people wouldn't dream of donning flashy colors like, say, lime green.
But at Monday's memorial service for Wanda Mack, 40, a longtime third-grade teacher at Parkwood Elementary School,who died from cancer last week, lime green was everywhere.
Lime green posters with pictures of Mack posing with her family and students surrounded her casket. There were lime green blouses, ponytail holders and hand-made ribbons held together by tiny hearts.
The color was worn mostly by Mack's students and colleagues as a tribute to their friend and mentor who loved the vibrant hue.
It was doubly appropriate because, to hear her friends and family tell it, Mack wasn't "most people".
Her love for her family, friends, students and God knew no bounds. Mack's equally limitless supply of energy allowed her to express that love in ways that endeared her to nearly everyone she knew.
"I wouldn't be surprised at all if she was shopping in heaven's mall right now or making a list for the things she needed to do for all the people up there" Mack's youngest brother, told the the standing-room-only crowd at Jones Funeral Home on Monday afternoon.
Much of that energy was directed at doing all she could for her students. For her efforts, Mack was awarded the Onslow County Teacher of the Year award for the 1999-2000 school year. She also earned the adoration of countless 8 and 9 year-olds.
"She loved them, and they all knew it" the Rev. said. "And not just with a warm, fuzzy, sentimental love but with a love that expected their level best".
Rev. said her inspiring personality made it that much tougher to let go. He advised those mourning to cling to happy memories of Mack and to their faith as they battled grief.
He told of how Wanda's husband sat at her bedside at a Duke University hospital last week. As she succumbed to her disease, had imaginary conversations with her loved ones as her husband listened.
At the end of each one, she would say "Remember now, I love you, and God loves you too".
"Perhaps those words are the ones that best encapsulate who Wanda was", Rev said. "They are the words that I believe she leaves with all of us today."
Hardison said he was comforted by the knowledge that his sister no longer suffers. "Just thinking that she no longer has the pain helps," he said.
"And remembering how she always was laughing helps even more. Now, heaven is one sweet soul sweeter."
As is customary at many Christian funerals, the pastor read Psalm 23 midway through the service.
The familiar message reads, in part, "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures."
For all those present Monday whose lives were touched by Mack, it likely was comforting to imagine her, now free of pain, relaxing in a green pasture.
Lime green, that is.
Published in The Jacksonville Daily News, Jacksonville, North Carolina
*Names of the living have been omitted from this article.
Inscription
WANDA HARDISON
MACK
Loving Wife, Mother & Teacher
August 5, 1961 - March 15, 2002
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
