Olivia Gillespie Farthing

Raleigh, NC- Olivia Gillespie Farthing passed away on January 2, 2013. She was born in Columbia, SC, on September 29, 1919, the daughter of James Lockwood Gillespie and Emma Olive Kelley Gillespie. She attended Queens College in Charlotte, NC for two years and transferred to the University of South Carolina where she received a degree in Psychology. After college, she attended the Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond, VA, to train as a church educator. During her second year there, she met and married her husband James Colly Farthing, Sr. They lived in his hometown of Lenoir, NC, where Olivia was a devoted and loving wife and mother. She was active in the First Methodist Church in Lenoir and volunteered in the Lenoir schools and with other non-profits organizations. She also served on the board of the N.C. School for the Deaf. In 1967, she moved to Raleigh when Jim was appointed to the N.C. Court of Appeals. After his death, she attended Meredith College to receive her teaching certification. She taught fourth grade for a number of years. After her retirement, she enjoyed spending time with her family, attending and volunteering at White Memorial Presbyterian Church, attending Bible studies at the church, volunteering as a docent at the NC Museum of History, volunteering at Wake Relief and serving on its board, and playing bridge with her friends. She received the Presbyterian Women Honorary Lifetime Membership Award for her service at the church. Olivia is predeceased by her husband and by her daughter Bonnie Latham Farthing. She is survived by two daughters Harriet F. Worley and her husband Jerry and Kelley Farthing and her husband Owen and her son James C. Farthing, Jr. and his wife Angela. She is also survived by two grandchildren Benjamin Worley and his wife Amy and Anna Worley Townsend and her husband John Townsend. Olivia had four great grandsons James Daniel and William Marshall Worley and John Moultrie and Marshall Latham Townsend. A service of Witness to the Resurrection for Olivia will be held on Friday, January 4, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at White Memorial Presbyterian Church. A graveside service will be conducted at 12:00 Noon on Saturday, January 5, 2013 at Blue Ridge Memorial Park in Lenoir. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be given to White Memorial Presbyterian Church, Wake Relief, or Hospice of Wake County. The family would like to thank the caretakers at Sunrise of Raleigh for their loving care of Olivia for over five years. The family also appreciates the services of Hospice of Wake County. Evans Funeral Service & Crematory of Lenoir is serving the Farthing Family in Lenoir. PDF Printable Version