Mary Virginia Dunkin Alford

Highlands, NC - Mary Virginia Dunkin Alford, 89, of Clear Creek Road, Highlands, NC, passed away on March 18, 2014, surrounded by family at the Eckerd Living Center in Highlands, NC.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 1:30 pm at Goldmine Baptist Church in Highlands, NC with the Rev. Gene Hawkins and Rev. Carson Gibson officiating.

Ms. Alford was born to Jewel Johnson Dunkin and Mitchner Morris Dunkin on February 18, 1925 in Greenville, Texas. She graduated from high school in Denver City, Texas, in 1942 and nursing training from Baylor University School of Nursing in 1947. She married Julius (Jake) Anderson Alford on May 18, 1947 in Dallas, Texas. Jake preceded her in death in 1998. During Jake's Air Force career, they and their children moved to various military bases in Illinois, Alaska, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Kansas, South Dakota, North Carolina and France before retiring permanently to Highlands in 1973. Ms. Alford worked as an RN at various hospitals throughout her nursing career including Highlands Hospital. For many years, Ms. Alford and her husband enjoyed hiking and volunteering with the Nantahala Hiking Club, the Bartram Trail and the Appalachian Trail Conference as well as traveling in the United States and Europe. Ms. Alford was an avid reader, a passion that was embraced by all of her children. She loved her little cabin on Clear Creek and enjoyed the change of the seasons, especially spring and fall when she enjoyed the many plants and trees in her yard. She had a passion for cooking and collecting cookbooks.

Ms. Alford was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers, Morris Mitchner Dunkin, Harold Johnson Dunkin and Larry Wayne Dunkin and a special granddaughter, Cindy McCall. Ms. Alford is survived by her six children Holly (Tom) Coffey of Winston Salem, NC, Steven (Gale Dendy) Alford of Highlands, NC, Gregory Alford of Panama City, FL, Julie Alford (John) McCall of Highlands, NC, Christopher (Mary) Alford of Greensboro, NC, Michelle (Shelli) Alford (Matthew) Williams of Sacramento, CA and former daughter in law, Becky Stanley Valle.

Surviving grandchildren include Stephanie McCall, Stephen McCall, Hannah Alford, Katherine Alford, Nicholas (Julie) Alford, Rachel Alford, Christen Williams, Elias Williams, Sam Williams and step grandson, Jamie Rhymes. She is also survived by great grandchildren Maddie Alford, Sophia Alford Corsetti, Trysten Stanley, Oryon (Big Jake) Stanley and Ayden Stanley.

The family will receive friends from 1:00 - 1:30 pm, prior to the service, at Goldmine Baptist Church. Burial will be held following the service at Mt. Moriah Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Morris Nix, Joe Brooks, Tommy Carpenter, John Roper, Bill Reese and James McCall. Music will be provided by The Dendy Family and bagpipes by Cameron Nixon.
Memorials may be made to the Mt. Moriah Cemetery Fund, c/o Mary Owens, 21 Pinecone Drive, Franklin, NC 28734.

Bryant Grant Funeral Home, Franklin NC is in charge of local arrangements.
Online condolences are available by visiting bryantgrantfuneralhome.com or by email.