Mary Lamm, 95, of Lumberton, NC died peacefully Saturday, February 11, 2023 surrounded by her family at Wesley Pines Retirement Center. She was born in Dublin, NC on July 8, 1927 to Robert Carey Lewis and Flawny Irene Lewis. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Wilma Smith, her brother, Robert Lewis, and her beloved husband, Jesse Lamm.

Mrs. Lamm grew up in a rural community working in tobacco fields and grading tobacco. She helped her mother with the family garden as well as other chores. She loved to run and explore with her brother, Robert, as well as play tennis on the court their father built in the back yard. She attended Dublin Elementary and graduated from Tar Heel High School 1944 as valedictorian of her class. For the next four year, she attended East Carolina Teachers College (now know as East Carolina University). There she majored in science and physical education, graduating in 1947. During this time, she met the love of her life,Jesse Lamm, where they dated for eighteen months and were married for almost seventy years. Helping her husband follow his dream, they lived began their lives together in North Carolina, New York, Indiana, and Iowa before returning to North Carolina.

In her professional life, Mrs. Lamm was a former teacher, coach, and housewife. As a teacher, she taught highschool science as well as coached girls basketball, in Chicod, NC and Bethel, NC. As one of the few women coaches, she taught her girls how to play zone defense which stumped the opponent's players and coaches. She also taught fifth and six grade math, reading and girls PE in  Fort Wayne, Indiana. Her final nineteen years of teaching were in Lumberton, NC teaching science, math, and P.E. at Joe P. Moore and Gilbert Carroll Middle Schools. She loved challenging and encouraging her students to be their best and loved all of them.

As a faithful member of Chestnut Street Methodist Church, Mrs. Lamm served on many committees including Education and Communication. She loved taking pictures of the church activities and posting them on the board or online. She is probably best remembered for he posting for her article "A Round of Applause" in The Nutshell . She spent time each Sunday gathering information of church members and staff, unbeknown to them, to be published the following week.

Mrs. Lamm is survived by her children Helen Cheek (James) of Durham, NC; a son Jim (Laura) Lamm of Fayetteville, NC; granddaughter Sara Houston of Hillsborough and great-grandchildren Riley and Mary Ashley; grandson Michael Griffin (Mercer) and great-grandchildren Stirling and Christopher; granddaughter Jessica Lamm; granddaughter Tonjia Cheek; grandson Jamie (Jessica) Cheek and great-grandchildren James and Kady; and granddaughter Cory Hooker (Stefan) and great-grandchildren Savanna and Mary Grace.

We as a family would like to thank Wesley Pines Retirement Center for their unwavering support of our mother for the past ten years. In addition we want to thank Community Hospice for their support of our mother and her family. Most importantly, we want to thank her care givers who helped make her final months a time of quality surpassing their jobs and becoming our family. They are Candace McMillian, Stephanie Lennon, Caitlin Hammonds, Tashina Smith, Sebrena Hammonds, Cassie Rogers, Danitte Whittington, Latorya Martin, Shania Lewis, and Taja Scott. Mrs. Lamm loved them all.

A time of visitation will be held on Saturday, February 18, 2023, from 11:00AM-12:00PM at Chestnut Street Methodist Church in the sanctuary. The service will immediately follow the visitation at 12:00PM.  Interment will follow at Gardens of Faith Cemetery in Lumberton.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the SOD Fund (organ) at Chestnut Street Methodist Church or the Wesley Pines Benevolent Fund at Wesley Pines Retirement Fund.

A video of the service will be available next week on The Chestnut Street Methodist Web page or Facebook at "CSMC Sound Booth".