Mrs. Ada Mae Patterson Carter, 93, formerly of Fork Bixby Road, Advance, passed away peacefully on June 19, 2024, at Brookdale Assisted Living in Winston-Salem, surrounded by her family.

She was born on April 29, 1931 in Forsyth County to the late William and Ethel Patterson.

Ada Mae graduated from Shady Grove School in Advance in 1949 and was proud to be involved in the school’s “49ers” reunions for decades. In the sixth grade, Ada Mae met her dearest friend for over 80 years, Ann Barnhardt. Ada Mae retired from working in accounting at Davie Auto Parts in Mocksville.

Ada Mae’s longtime passion was being involved in activities at Fork Baptist Church, which she joined in 1963 and attended faithfully for over 50 years. During her time there, she worked in the nursery, assisted with the Girls’ Auxiliary Group, taught Sunday School classes, and was an enthusiastic supporter of foreign mission projects and Bible study. An avid Biblical scholar, Ada Mae read the Bible in its entirety 35 times. She enjoyed cooking and baking for family, friends, and fellow church members, and her children will attest to how wonderful those aromas of fried chicken, yeast rolls, cakes, and pies were as they permeated throughout the house. She enjoyed gardening, canning, and making grape jelly from scratch. While living on Fork Church Road, rows of iris’, roses, pansies, and daffodils flourished under her care. Ada Mae also loved to crochet and donated hundreds of beautiful baby blankets through a local charity. She was always ready to share her impressive crocheting craft with those who wished to learn. She volunteered her assistance in the community to help people learn to read.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by: her husband of nearly 50 years, Allie J. “Buck” Carter; and 2 sisters, Wilma Gunn and Margie Thomasson.

Survivors include: her children, Sylvia Vance (Don), Wayne Carter (Wanda), and Janice Neff (Chip). Ada Mae cherished her role as grandmother and loved being “Nanny” to her grandchildren Ellen Hefner, Arianna Carter, Leah Hands, Mary Katherine Neff, and John Neff; and her great-grandchildren Dawson Hefner, Asa Hefner, Merrick Hefner, Carson Hands, and Charley Hands. She was a warm, caring person who loved her family dearly and who had a ready smile and a kind word for everyone she met.

We know Heaven is an even better place with your presence, Ada Mae. We miss you so much already but know we will see you again.

A funeral service will be conducted at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 29 at Fork Baptist Church with Rev. Robert Garrett officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.

Flowers are welcome or memorials may be considered for Fork Baptist, 3140 US 64 E., Mocksville, NC 27028.

Online condolences: www.eatonfuneralservice.com.