Mary Jarrell Obituary

Mary Long Jarrell

February 16, 1929 - January 5, 2025

High Point, North Carolina - Mary Riddick Long Jarrell, 95, died Sunday January 5, 2025 at River Landing Retirement Community. Mary was a resident of High Point until 2008 when she and her late husband, Dr. Harold Thomas Jarrell, moved to River Landing in Colfax, NC.

Mary was born on February 16, 1929 in Winston-Salem to Jennie Mae Fife Long and David Allison Long, Jr. and her childhood was spent in Thomasville, NC. She was a graduate of Fairfax Hall in Waynesville, Virginia and Queens College in Charlotte, NC, where she earned degrees in education and English. In addition, she did graduate work in education at UNC-Chapel Hill. Mary was proud to be a 7th grade teacher in the public school systems of both Forsyth and Davidson Counties for 9 years. She spent the rest of her life championing the importance of quality public education in North Carolina. She later was appointed to the Board of Trustees at Guilford Technical Community College and served as their Legislative Liaison. She was a member of the Chi Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International.

On June 16,1956 Mary married Dr. Harold Thomas Jarrell and moved to High Point. She joined the Junior League of High Point and immediately became involved in her new community. Throughout her many years of civic engagement, Mary gave the Junior League of High Point credit for the development of her leadership skills and love of community service. Her favorite Junior League placement was chairing the committee that restored the John Haley House. In the ensuing years, Mary served her community in many capacities: Vice President of the High Point Historical Society, member of the Guilford County Historical Commission, board member of the High Point Museum, member of the William Penn Restoration Committee, board member of the Community Concert, President of the YWCA, board member of High Point Drug Action Council, board member of Westchester Academy, board of visitors of Maryfield Nursing Home, board member of the High Point Chamber of Commerce, community advisory board for the Junior League of High Point, member of Guilford County Democratic Women, board of directors of Friends Homes, charter board member of the Bank of North Carolina, board of trustees of High Point Friends School, board member of the NC Retail Merchants Association, and founding board member of the State Capitol Foundation in Raleigh. While president of the YWCA, she co-founded the first domestic violence shelter in High Point. Mary was also a member of the Alexander Martin Chapter and the Rachel Caldwell Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Guilford Committee of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of North Carolina, as well as a member of the North Carolina Historical Book Club and North Carolina Museum of History Associates.

Membership at High Point Friends Meeting was always a priority for Mary. Throughout the years she served as Presiding Clerk of the Meeting, President of United Friends Women, an Elder and taught Sunday School to both children and adults. She was a founding board member of High Point Friends School. Although raised as a Presbyterian, she embraced the Quaker ideals of social justice and reform.

In 1977, Mary was asked by former mayor and civic leader, O. Arthur Kirkman, to run for the High Point City Council. After a successful election, she served on the Council and as Mayor Pro Tem for two terms. In 1983, she was asked by the Democratic Party to run for the North Carolina General Assembly representing Guilford County. She went on to serve 7 terms in the NC House. During her tenure she served in many leadership positions, such as chair of the Local Government Committee, chair of the State Government Committee and co-chair of the Finance Committee. She was honored to represent Guilford County in the General Assembly and was always advocating for her constituents. While there, Mary sponsored the bill that founded the North Carolina Shakespeare Festival and was proud that it was an important piece of the High Point arts community for many years.

Mary was the recipient of numerous honors and awards. She was named a High Point Enterprise "High Pointer of the Week," received the Mary Lib Joyce award from the High Point Historical Society, Legislative Award from the NC Association of Educators, Legislation Award from GTCC, Guardian of Small Business Award from the National Federation of Independent Businesses, Jane Patterson Leadership Award, Legislator Leadership Award from A&T University, YWCA Women of Distinction, and Leadership Award from the Continuing Care Retirement Community Residents in NC. In 2012, Governor Beverly Perdue awarded Mary The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, an award presented to individuals who have a proven record of extraordinary service to the state.

Mary was predeceased in death by her husband of 58 years, Dr. Harold Thomas Jarrell, her son, The Honorable Harold Thomas Jarrell Jr, her brothers The Rev. Dr. William Fife Long, The Rev. Dr. David Allison Long, III and her son-in-law Wilson Hayman. She is survived by her daughter, Jennie Jarrell Hayman, her daughter-in-law, Cynthia Roberson Jarrell, her four grandsons, Wilson Whitford Hayman, Harold Thomas Jarrell, III and wife Allison Cheeseman Jarrell, Robert Kirkman Jarrell, David Parker Jarrell, her great-granddaughter, Leah Evelyn Jarrell, a sister-in-law Vermelle Brearley Long and numerous nieces and nephews. Her grandsons were her pride and joy.

The family is grateful for the loving community of staff, nurses and residents at River Landing which was Mary's home for over 15 years, and for her companion and caregiver, Phyllis Strickland.

A Memorial Service, officiated by Pastor Scott Wagoner and Chaplain Robbin Mundy, will be held at High Point Friends Meeting on Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. following a private burial at Springfield Friends Meeting. The family will receive visitors immediately following the Memorial Service in Regan Fellowship Hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to High Point Friends Meeting or High Point Friends School, 800 Quaker Lane, High Point, NC 27262; Guilford Technical Community College Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 309, Jamestown, NC 27282; or the State Capitol Foundation, Inc., 4624 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-4624. Condolences may be made through www.cumbyfuneral.com.