Eternal Rest Grant Unto Her O Lord

Mary Addie Gilliland Geiger, MSCW class of 1947,  died peacefully at home on Friday, April 29, 2011. She was a loving wife, devoted mother, sister, grandmother and great-grandmother as well as a supportive and inspiring friend. She touched many lives with her unconditional love, caring attention and zest for life.

Born on April 30, 1926, in Cedar Bluff, Mary was the daughter of the late Charles Thomas Gilliland and Lucille Harkins Gilliland. She graduated in 1947 from Mississippi State College for Women with a Bachelor of Science in Bacteriology. She began her career in medical technology in Chattanooga, Tenn., where she met and married her husband John Carlton Geiger. They built their lives together as John worked for IBM and Mary raised their four children. They have been in Raleigh for the past 46 years where Mary was a founding member of Capital Quilters Guild and a longtime member of Trinity Baptist Church. She’s best known by her family and friends for her gracious hospitality, holiday and family gatherings, and baby quilts for her grandchildren.

In addition to John, her husband of 60 years, Mary is survived by her children, Patricia Geiger of Boone, Margaret Chesson and husband Earl of Chapel Hill, John Carlton Geiger Jr. and wife Barbara of Raleigh, Janie Schaeffer and husband John of Raleigh; nine grandchildren; Elizabeth Hutchison and husband Don; Win, Mary, and Tricia Chesson, Robert and Margaret Geiger, Steven, Richard, and Chris Schaeffer, and four great-grandchildren, Nicholas, Oliver, Charles and Ella Hutchison.