Obituary of Nettie Strum Gravitte

Obituary for Nettie Gravitte: Nettie Strum Gravitte was born in Hillsborough, NC on December 23, 1919 to the late Richard Ervin and Elizabeth Strum. She passed peacefully from this world at Royal Park in Matthews, NC on March 3, 2016. She was married to the late Wiley Nichols Gravitte on April 4, 1953 when they eloped to South Carolina. As e.e. cummings said in one of his poems, "i carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart)". That sentiment totally embodies the life Nettie and Wiley shared for 56 loving years together. Nettie was trained in the Cosmetology School in Durham after graduating from Hillsboro High School and worked as a beautician in Hillsborough and later a weaver at Bellevue Cotton Mill early in her career. She retired from Hillsborough Textiles in 1984 after having worked with the company since their opening in the early 1970's. Nettie was an avid gardener and lover of any blooming plant, she was a wonderful seamstress and crocheted many beautiful items. She and Wiley loved to travel and spent many vacations and long weekends with family on trips to Canada, Europe, the mountains, both coasts and all the states between. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents Richard and Elizabeth Strum, her sister, Estelle Strum Blackwelder, and her brother, Matthew Strum. Surviving are many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews with wonderful memories of special times with a loving aunt and uncle. The family would like to thank Brighton Gardens of Charlotte, NC and Royal Park of Matthews, NC for their tender care of Nettie over the last two years. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer's Association of NC at www.alznc.org. Walkers Funeral Home in Hillsborough is assisting the family.