Mary Louise Carter Olive, 85, of Shelby, formerly of Lumberton, died peacefully on Sunday, May 17, 2009 at Cleveland Regional Medical Center.

Mary Louise was born September 18, 1923 in Rockingham, NC to John D. and Ruth Wallace Carter. She was preceded in death by her husband, T.C. Olive in October 2000.

While in Lumberton, Mary Louise was an active member of First Baptist Church. She also served many years in the Lioness Club, was a former president of the club and was once honored as Lioness of the Year. She also served in retail sales for many years.

Mary Louise is survived by her brother Billy B. Carter and wife Shirley, as well as many nieces and nephews whom she considered her own children. She always remembered everyone\\chr(39)s birthday and always sent them cards.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers John A. Carter and James Henry Ford Carter and sisters Coley Garriga and Addie Hughes, as well as step-daughter Billie Olive Kinlaw.

Mary Louise was a kind and gracious woman. She was extremely well-read and kept up with news from around the world. She was a lover of animals, owning many pets during her lifetime and feeding any strays that ever showed up at her door.

A funeral service will be held Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at Floyd Memorial Chapel, 809 E. 5th Street in Lumberton at 11:00 AM. A visitation will be held prior to the funeral beginning at 10:00 AM. Burial will be at Eastside Cemetery in Rockingham at 2:00 on Wednesday.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be made to the Robeson County Humane Society Friends For Life Shelter, P.O. Box 3609, Lumberton, NC 28359.