Maryann Cross Farthing

The family will receive friends on Saturday, August 9 at Davidson Funeral Home in Lexington from 10am-11am, followed by the funeral at 11:30 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Lexington City Cemetery.

Dr. Farthing was born October 19, 1931, in Reidsville, NC, to Samuel and Della Cross. She grew up as one of six siblings: Lucille, Cecil, Jett, David and Bobbie. She was a graduate of the Women's College of Greensboro (now UNCG) earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics. After working as a public health nutritionist, she earned a Master’s degree from the University of Tennessee. After teaching and serving as a dietitian, she returned to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro for her Ph.D. in Foods and Nutrition in 1974. She taught at Appalachian State University where the students voted her “Teacher of the Year” and then University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she had a positive impact on many students including establishing the Mary Ann Farthing Scholarship Fund in Nutrition. She received many awards both State and National for her service as a nutritionist.

She served in the community of Lexington by helping to establish the Family Services of Davidson County medical clinic. She was a long-time member of the First Presbyterian Church and taught adult Sunday school, served as an elder, and served on a number of committees.

Besides making these great contributions in her professional, community and church life, MaryAnn had a very active family and social life. It was very important to her to keep up with friends and especially her immediate and extended family. Family vacations, reunions, birthdays and holidays were all opportunities she cultivated and enjoyed. Traveling with her husband, Don, was a joy during their retirement years and they went on tours in the United States and also Europe. Their last big trip was a cruise through the Panama Canal.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters and two brothers as well as her husband of 52 years, Albert Donald Farthing.

Surviving are her daughter, Lisa Farthing Sahlie of Wilmington, and her son, Sam Farthing and wife, Traci, of Florida; six grandchildren, Annie Kate Sahlie Lefebvre and husband Vincent, Luke Sahlie, Sophia Farthing, Owen Farthing, Baxter Farthing and Henry Farthing; and great-grandson, Leo Lefebvre.

Memorials may be made to The MaryAnn C. Farthing Scholarship at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health at give.unc.edu or Davidson Medical Ministries, P.O. Box 584, Lexington, NC 27293.