Marie Elizabeth (Echerd) Atwood

Mrs. Marie Echerd Atwood, 100 years of age, passed away Sunday, October 29th, at Atrium Health Cabarrus following a brief illness. Marie was born on August 1, 1923, in Taylorsville, NC, daughter of Samuel and Cora Linnie Hammer Echerd. She grew up in the Ellendale Community of Alexander County and graduated from Taylorsville High School in 1941. After graduating from Hinshaw School of Beauty, Marie began her beautician career in the beauty salon of Ivey's Department Store in Charlotte. After marrying, she moved to Kannapolis where she owned and operated her own salons, The Vogue on Main Street in Kannapolis and later, Sherwood Forest Beauty Salon at her home. She also was a librarian assistant at J. W. Cannon Junior High School and Kannapolis Middle School and retired from Kannapolis City Schools after 23 years of service.

Marie was an active and dedicated member of First Baptist Church of Kannapolis until declining health prevented many activities. She served as a deacon, member of the Hospitality Committee, and Bible School assistant. She particularly enjoyed her mission trips to Germany and Alaska. Marie also loved to grow roses and to share their beautiful blooms with others. She was a member of the Rowan County Rose Society for many years, and the rose garden at her home contained over 100 specimen plants of many varieties. Marie was also well-known and loved for her excellent baked and canned goods, particularly her made-from-scratch pound cake, country ham biscuits, fruit preserves, and an amazing variety of pickles.

Marie was preceded in death by her parents Sam and Cora Echerd; Rex, her husband of 67 years, who passed away in February 2008; and her sisters, Kathleen Harrill of Raleigh, Helen Smyre of Durham and Thelma Mendenhall of Winston Salem. She is survived by two daughters, Jill Atwood Brown and her husband, Paul, of Kannapolis; Donna Atwood of Fredericksburg, Texas; one grandson, Sandon Seagraves of Rockledge, Florida; two great-grandsons, Sandon Blaise Seagraves and Harper Finn Seagraves; sister, Arveta (Ace) Millsaps of Raleigh; many nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held at Whitley’s Funeral Home on Monday, November 20, 2023 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Graveside rites will be held at Carolina Memorial Park across from the main office the following day, Tuesday, November 21, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. with Rev. Dr. Thomas E. Cabaniss officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: First Baptist Church, 101 N. Main Street, Kannapolis, NC 28081 or NC State University College of Veterinary Medicine, 1060 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC 27607, http://www.cvm.ncsu.edu/ncvmf/ways.htm