Obituary of Ginner Poe

MARY VIRGINIA WARREN POE June 26, 1926 ? June 3, 2011 ?In all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.? Romans 8:37 Mary Virginia Warren Poe passed peacefully into eternal life early Friday, June 3, 2011, surrounded by the love of her family. She was a resident of the Stewart Center at The Cypress Club, Charlotte. ?Ginner?, as she was known, was born in Louisville, Kentucky, the eldest child and only daughter of Casper Carl Warren and Lassye Strickland Warren. She spent her early years in Little Rock, Arkansas, until moving to Charlotte during high school when her father was called to pastor First Baptist Church. After graduating from Central High School, she attended Meredith College in Raleigh, where she was a home economics major and student leader. In 1947, she attended summer school at Wake Forest College, Wake Forest, North Carolina, where she met a young veteran of World War II, William E. (?Bill?) Poe. The attraction was instantaneous and they became engaged to be married after only a few weeks. Following her graduation from Meredith, they were married in August 1948 in Charlotte by their fathers, both Baptist ministers. Ginner and Bill spent their first two years of marriage in Cambridge, Massachusetts, while Bill completed Harvard Law School. During this time, their first child, Eddie, was born. They moved to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, following law school, where Bill worked for the new North Carolina Institute of Government. Their second son, Steve, was born there. They then moved to Charlotte, where Bill joined the firm for which he worked his entire career, Taliaferro, Clarkson & Grier, which is now known as Parker Poe. Three more sons were born in Charlotte: Ken, Rick and Mike, and (finally) a daughter, Anne. Ginner would sometimes refer to the six children as her ?basketball team and cheerleader.? Ginner was the consummate wife and mother. Devoted to her family in every way, she raised her children in a loving home, where her family and faith were paramount. She was also the ideal partner and helpmate to her husband of more than fifty years, whom she loved and supported in every way until his death in December 1999. She continued to love him and mourn his absence, and all of her children now rejoice that their Mom and Dad have been reunited in their spiritual life. In addition to her family, Ginner was very active at First Baptist Church, where she taught, and was a role model for a young married couples class for many years and was a member of the Fidelis class. At Meredith College, she served as a trustee for many years, was a president of the alumnae association and received the ?Outstanding Alumna? award. She served as president of the Mecklenburg County Legal Auxiliary, and was a long-time member and president of the Cranford Book Club, one of the oldest continuous book clubs in Charlotte. In addition, she was a volunteer chaplain at Presbyterian Hospital for more than thirty years, where she served as a welcoming and comforting presence to thousands of patients. The love of Ginner?s life was her family, and her favorite thing was to have all of her children and grandchildren?s ?feet under the table? for a meal together. Always a wonderful cook, she was happiest when ?feeding her flock? and spending time together as family. Ginner also loved to travel and was planning trips until near the end of her life. She and Bill travelled together to many countries, from Europe to China, and they took each of their children and their spouse on a special overseas trip. Closer to home, she loved to spend time together with Bill at their mountain home near Blowing Rock. Ginner is survived by her six children and fifteen grandchildren: William Edward Poe, Jr. and his wife, Joyce of Charlotte,; Stephen Douglas Poe and his wife, Jane of Winston-Salem, Kenneth Warren Poe and his wife, Joy, Richard Strickland Poe and his wife, Kathy, Michael Dowd Poe and his wife, Pam, all of Charlotte; and Anne Poe Matthews and her husband, Ed of Greenville, SC; grandchildren, Will and Amy Poe, Nina Poe, Katie Smith and her husband, Van, Warren Poe and his wife, Heather, Thomas Poe, Meredith Martin and her husband, Duncan, Kimberly and Richard Poe; Jennifer, Christopher and Sarah Poe, Brook Patterson and her husband, Dan, Reid and Trent Matthews. She is also survived by her brother, A. Eugene Warren and his wife, Louise of Charlotte, and sister-in-law, Jeck Warren, widow of her brother, C. Carl Warren, Jr., of Charlotte, as well as by numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held at 6:30 P.M. on Monday, June 6, 2011, in the Fellowship Hall of First Baptist Church, 301 South Davidson Street, Charlotte. A funeral service will take place at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, June 7, 2011 in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery, Charlotte. The family will also receive friends at The Cypress of Charlotte from 4:00 until 5:00 P.M. on Monday. The family wishes to thank the staff of the Stewart Health Center for their care of Ginner during the past 18 months, as well as to Hospice and Palliative Care Charlotte Region for their recent support. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 31046, Charlotte, NC 28231-1046 or a charity of the donor?s choice.