Rockwell, Mary Louise Mrs. Rockwell, 61, of Davidson, North Carolina, passed away on February 4th at her home. She was born February 1, 1950 in Minneapolis, MN to the late George Robert Nehls and Laura Elizabeth Nehls. She was an active member of the literary community of North Mecklenburg County. Mrs. Rockwell graduated with a BA and a Masters of Literary Arts from Chatham College in Pittsburgh, PA and later received a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Queens University in Charlotte. She taught theater at Carnegie Mellon, Duke, New York University and other prestigious institutions. She wrote and directed several theatrical productions as well as numerous poems. Mrs. Rockwell was the founding member of the Charlotte Writers Club - North, and established the Anthony Abbott Poetry Competition. She is survived by her husband, Russell; her mother, Laura Elizabeth Nehls of Hendersonville, NC; sister, Nancy Nehls Nelson and husband Curtis of Weaverville, NC; brother, George Robert Nehls, Jr of Duluth, MN, and brother, Thomas L. Nehls of Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Russell Rockwell is the youngest son of the late Willard F. Rockwell, Jr. CEO of Rockwell International. A memorial service is planned for Wednesday February 16, 2011 in the St. Giles Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 2027 Emerywood Drive, Charlotte North Carolina. Funeral services and interment in the Homewood Cemetery will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to either the Vine Ministry, serving the people of Haiti, P.O. Box 71283, Albany GA 31708; The Freeport Theatre Festival, a non-profit summer stock theater, 2498 White Cloud Farm, Leechburg, PA 15656; or Christian Friends of Israel cfijerusalem.net/. Arrangements by John A. Freyvogel Sons Inc., 4900 Centre Avenue at Devonshire Street, Pittsburgh, PA (412-621-1665).
