June 12, 1929 ~ December 11, 2022
Moncie Tally Wilkie (Mama, Granny), born June 12, 1929, to William Berry and Emma Phillips Tally, ran to the arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Sunday morning, December 11, 2022, surrounded by her children.
She was 93 years young. The youngest of 12, she said her mother never gave her a middle name just “Moncie Tally” because after having so many kids, she ran out of names.
A lifelong member of Hickory Grove Baptist Church she taught and attended Sunday school, Vacation Bible School, Women’s Missionary Group and was always involved with Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes. A lady of exemplary faith, her biggest desire was to see others receive Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior.
She raised chickens for Townsend, made beautiful wedding cakes, worked in the chicken plant, worked in a recycle plastics mill, and worked for Southern Supreme Fruitcakes in their early years. Most recently, until she was 83, she was a courier for Community Family Medicine. When she retired, she volunteered at the West Chatham Food Pantry.
She loved to read especially her Bible, novels, her missionary book, and daily devotionals, watch Hallmark movies, attend yard sales and thrift stores, the mountains, visiting historic homes, looking at the moon at night, watching birds, and dark chocolate. She said many times that she was the last living of 51 first cousins.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Rex Wilkie, daughter Bonnie Wilkie, great granddaughter McKenna Jessup, and brothers Ike, Talmadge, Sam, Joe, Fred, Woodrow, and sisters Swannie, Lona, Beulah, Malinda, and Leah.
Those left to cherish her memory are a son Randy Wilkie and wife Kay; daughters, Joan Jessup and husband Joel, Connie Henson and husband Rick; and grandchildren, Teresa Humphrey and husband Oza, Keith Jessup and wife Maria, Jason Wilkie, Jana Williams and husband Lee, Timmy Jessup, Brooke Little and husband Justin, Meredith Lambert and husband Anthony, great grandchildren, Dakota Humphrey and wife Brynn, McKayla Wilkie, Jona Humphrey and wife Celeste, Emma Humphrey (Drew), Haven Jessup, Jaylee Williams, Laura Jessup, Gavin Williams, Ansley Little and Addison Little; and great-great grandchildren, Layla Humphrey, Oaklyn Humphrey, and Blakely Humphrey.
One of Granny’s memories is of her Daddy ringing the bell at the church, while watching his pocket watch for 5 minutes — this was for others to come help dig the grave. In her honor, the church bell rang before the funeral service.
She loved flowers, but if you choose, donations can also be made to Hickory Grove Baptist Church.
The family received friends from 12 to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, December 14, 2022, at Hickory Grove Baptist Church, 17721 NC Hwy 902, Bear Creek, N.C. A funeral service followed at 1 p.m. at the church with Rev. Darrell Garner officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Smith & Buckner Funeral Home is assisting the Wilkie family.
Online condolences may be made at www.smithbucknerfh.com