Mrs. Mary Julia Whitted Scarlett

The family of Mary Julia Whitted Scarlett, age 95, wishes to announce her passing on Tuesday, April 9, 2019, at her home in Hillsborough, North Carolina. Mary Julia Whitted Scarlett was born August 12, 1923 in the Saint Mary’s area of Orange County, North Carolina to John Page Whitted and Julia Harris Whitted. On Tuesday, April 9, 2019, she responded to her Savior’s call by retiring to her favorite recliner and simply closing her eyes. Because of her gentle nature and her propensity walk quietly on her toes, Mary became known by close friends and family as Tip. She joined Lipscomb Grove Baptist Church at an early age. There she served as an usher and missionary. She loved gospel quartets and gospel choirs. Tip was the first of her siblings to commence education in the public school setting. She received her grammar school education at Saint Mary’s School for the Colored. She attended Little River School, however, economic hardship created by The Great Depression prevented her graduation. Later, Tip obtained her high school equivalency and earned her certification as a tailor. Descending from Orange County’s Native American population as well as one of the county’s early Quaker families, Tip lived her life cultivating values of religious worship, education, equality and sustaining human life from the produce of Mother Earth. During her early twenties, Tip met Deacon John Scarlett while attending a service at Lipscomb Grove. They united in Holy Matrimony July 4, 1946. Tip readily accepted her role as a deacon’s wife and became known as Sister Scarlett. She became a member of Mount Gilead Baptist Church and the Orange County Home Economics Club. She was a founding member of District 1 of the New Hope Association and a founding member of the Northern Orange Voter’s Alliance. Sister Scarlett and Mrs. Rosetta Moore canvassed northern Orange County during the evenings identifying disfranchised individuals and assisted them with voter registration. At age 50, Sister Scarlett quietly enrolled in Durham Technical College and received her certification as a Nursing Assistant. She began a career in private duty nursing and later accepted employment with a local nursing home. It was common for Sister Scarlett to work beyond the hours of her shift ensuring mentally and physically infirmed patients consumed balanced meals to sustain life. She used her personal income to decorate shoe boxes filling them with fruit, nuts, toiletries. She gifted the boxes to patients without familial support during Christmas. Upon the birth of her first grandchild, Sister Scarlett retired declaring “no one can raise my grandchildren like I can!” Sister Scarlett provided care for her grandchildren teaching them the art of cooking and the mystery of planting and reaping. Sister Scarlett is survived by daughters, Doctor Yolanda V. Scarlett, Judge Beverly A. Scarlett and Sister Jackie K. Scarlett; grandchildren, Brandon Scott Herndon, Paige Scarlett Hathaway and Donovan Harris Herndon; special nephews, Gene Roger Hayes and John Ronnie Scarlett; numerous nieces and nephews, members of the Orange County Missionary Union, members of the Whitted Family of Hillsborough, members of the Harris Family originating in Rougemont, North Carolina and Clarksville, Virginia and members of the Saponi Nation of Ohio. Sister Scarlett leaves large shoes that will never be filled but her footprints remain as a spiritual and cultural guide to all her loved ones. Funeral services will take place on Wednesday, April 17, 2019, at Lipscomb Grove Missionary Baptist Church, 800 Lipscomb Grove Church Road, Hillsborough, North Carolina, 27278. Family members will greet friends at 11:30 a.m. and the service will follow at 12:30 p.m. Mrs. Mary Julia Whitted Scarlett will be laid to rest in Mount Gilead Baptist Church Cemetery, 3512 Pleasant Green Road, Durham, North Carolina 27705.

Mrs. Mary Julia Whitted Scarlett

August 12, 1923 - April 9, 2019