Grace Virginia Freeman

MACON- Mrs. Grace Virginia Melton Freeman, 82, formerly of Marion, NC, but most recently of Macon, GA, died January 29, 2010 at the Medical Center of Central GA, as a result of extended chronic illness. A funeral service will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Marion, NC, with interment with her husband at the Western North Carolina Veterans' Cemetery in Black Mountain, NC on a future date in March. Mrs. Freeman was born on June 24, 1927 in Gaffney, SC to the late Oscar Nathaniel Melton and the late Daisy Gaffney Melton. She lived in Gaffney until her high school graduation and marriage to the late Martin F. Freeman, Jr. on September 17, 1944, during Mr. Freeman's army service in World War II. Following Mr. Freeman's graduations from Limestone College undergraduate school in Gaffney, SC and the University of South Carolina graduate school, Mrs. Freeman moved with her husband from Columbia, SC to Greensboro, NC. They had 2 daughters and were transferred by Mr. Freeman's company, Western Auto, to Jacksonville, FL and Nashville, TN, before settling Marion, NC in 1967. In Marion they bought the local Western Auto Store franchise as co-owners. Grace worked with Martin in the Western Auto until they retired in 1991 and did some traveling. Grace remained in Marion after Martin's death in 2000, until she moved to Macon in 2004 to live closer to her daughter's family. A member of Northminster Presbyterian Church in Macon, Grace has also enjoyed being a member and volunteering in the office at First Presbyterian Church in Marion. While living in Marion, NC, she delivered meals for McDowell County Meals on Wheels, helped with Habitat for Humanity, and worked in the office of Hospice of McDowell County. Grace is survived by two daughters, Hope Freeman Daniel and her husband Bob of Macon and Jane Freeman Gallalee and her husband Jim of Overland Park, KS; two grandchildren, Jeffrey Daniel of Macon and Genevieve Gallalee of Overland Park; step-granddaughter Julie Scott and her husband Bryan of Macon; and three step great-grandchildren, Avery Scott (5 yrs.), Brynn Scott (3 yrs.), and Asa Scott (2 yrs.) of Macon. Her loving brother, Joe Melton and his wife Elsie of Atlanta, Ga.; her brother-in-law, Charles Freeman of Forest City, NC; and many nieces and nephews and their children. The family requests that memorials be made to any of Mrs. Freeman's above-mentioned favorite worthy charities or churches or to Hospice of Central GA at P.O Box 6533 Macon, GA 31208. Friends may sign the online register at www.hartsmort.com. Hart's Mortuary and Crematory, Cherry Street has charge of local arrangements.