Mary Pike Obituary

Mary Elizabeth Upshaw Pike ATLANTA, GA - Mary Elizabeth Upshaw Pike passed away on Thursday, May 22, 2014, after an extended illness. She was born December 18, 1924 in Atlanta, the daughter of prominent obstetrician, Charles Bell Upshaw, M.D. and Mrs. Belle Porcher LeRoy Upshaw. She grew up in Atlanta and attended Spring Street and E. Rivers Grammar Schools; Washington Seminary Preparatory School; Sweet Briar and Converse Colleges; and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, in 1946. While there, she was a member of Delta Delta Delta Fraternity. During her junior year at UNC, she made her debut with the Atlanta Debutante Club at the Piedmont Driving Club. Following graduation from college, she toured Europe and Scandinavia and then went to work for Emory University School of Medicine, working as a lab technician at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. On December 21, 1954 she married the love of her life, Dr. John Sanders (Sandy) Pike, D.D.S. Their first home was in Brooklyn, New York where he was stationed with the Navy and serving on the USS Bennington. After the Navy, they moved to Lincoln, Nebraska for two years, where he took training and received his Masters Degree in Dentistry for Children, from the University of Nebraska. They returned to Chapel Hill, NC, where he taught at the UNC Dental School and she worked as a lab technician at Duke University Medical School. After four years, they moved back to Atlanta, where Sandy began his private practice in 1961. Mary worked as his assistant for 47 years. In 1966, they discovered an 18th century home built in 1788 on the square in Washington, Georgia. They purchased the building and had it moved in 1966 to their property in Cobb County, Georgia, where it was restored to its original dimensions and later designated an historic home. Their restoration was recognized by The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation in 1988 and The Cobb Landmarks Society, Inc. in 1991. She was a life member of the Huguenot Society of South Carolina, joining in 1944. She served on the board of the Huguenot Society of South Carolina for 18 years, as Vice-President for New Bordeaux. In 2008, she was presented the prestigious L'Esprit de Huguenot award for her service. She was a member of the Huguenot Society of Georgia; a lifetime member of St. Mark United Methodist Church; a member of the Junior League of Atlanta; a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution; and served as a board member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry for 12 years; and was a Life Member of the UNC Alumni Association. During the last few years, she has resided at Lenbrook Health Care Center in Atlanta. She was predeceased by her parents and her husband and is survived by her brother, Charles Bell Upshaw, Jr., M.D. of Atlanta, GA and by the following nephews and nieces: Charles Bell Upshaw III (Connie) of Raleigh, NC; Agnor LeRoy Upshaw of Buies Creek, NC; James Andrew Upshaw, M.D. (Amanda) of Macon, GA; Thomas Arthur Upshaw, M.D. (Jana) of Charleston, SC; Mary Frances Upshaw Culpepper (Chris) of Roswell, GA; and Sarah Upshaw Crittenden (Frank) of Dunwoody, GA . Great nephews and great nieces are: U.S. Army Captain Charles Andrew Upshaw, stationed in Seoul, South Korea; Grace Elizabeth Upshaw of Asheville, NC, Mary Katherine Upshaw and Caroline Joy Upshaw of Buies Creek, NC; Charles Bell Upshaw, IV of Macon, GA; Helena Grace Upshaw and Bradley Aaron Upshaw of Charleston, SC; and Alexander Greene Crittenden and Margaret Hope Crittenden of Dunwoody, GA; and many dear cousins, both Upshaw and LeRoy. The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses and caregivers who have helped Mary in these last years and, especially the last few weeks, at Lenbrook Health Care Center and Piedmont Hospital. A special thanks to Kathleen Parker and Julius Kanuhi, who have been loyal and loving caregivers for Mary and Sandy over the past seven years. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, at 11:00 a.m., in the Abbey Chapel at Westview Cemetery, 1680 Westview Drive, SW, Atlanta, GA, 30310, visitation from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. in the chapel, prior to the service with burial immediately following the funeral service. Funeral officiated by Robbye Jarrell, Chaplain, Lenbrook Square. In lieu of flowers, Mary requested donations be made to: The Belle Porcher LeRoy Upshaw Fund of the Huguenot Society of South Carolina, 138 Logan Street, Charleston, S.C. 29401 or the charity of your choice. Visit our guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/ charleston