In Memory

Elizabeth Mayo Wasson (Pearson)

We have just been informed of the death of one of our classmates, Libby Wasson. Here is the obituary posted in the Statesville Record & Landmark.

Mrs. Elizabeth Wasson Pearson, affectionately called "Libby," 62, of 790 Eastside Drive Statesville, departed this life Tuesday, May 13, 2014, at The Gordon Hospice House, following an extended illness. She was born in Iredell County, Oct. 9, 1951 and was the daughter of the late Eugenia Wasson Linney and James Cordell Linney Sr. She was united in marriage to Leon Pearson, who survives. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by a granddaughter, Amari Charice Hines; sisters, Andrea Joyce Stockton and Syretha Carr Johnson; and two brothers, William Randolph "Fookie" Linney and James "Jimmy" Cordell Linney Jr. Libby was a 1969 graduate of Statesville High School, a 1970 graduate of La-Maes Beauty School, Winston-Salem, and Statesville Business School in 1973. She received numerous certificates, including, Word Processing from Mitchell Community College, Fashion Fair Cosmetic School in Charlotte, Dudley Advanced School in Winston-Salem, Bonner Brothers in Atlanta, Ga., Soft Sheen and Soft N' Free Workshops. She was the owner and operator of Pearson's Hair Affair, Statesville, since 1981. Prior to launching her own business, Libby was employed by VIP Travel in Kannapolis as a Travel Agent, Eastern Airlines as a Sales Representative, Belk Department Store, and the Employment Security Commission. She was a member of Calvary Presbyterian Church and served on various boards, including the Deacon Board and numerous committees. She was a member of the Progressive Beauticians and had served as it's president. Her commitment to her family and community were vast and included many organizations, including the Ebony Circle Inc., where she had at one been president, chairman and co-chairman of The Little Miss Ebony Pageant, a former member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Minority Affairs Committee and the Human Relations Commission. She is survived by her husband, Leon of the home; two daughters, Lisa Pearson Sawyer (Cornelius) of Greenville, April Pearson Caro (Nathaniel) of Roanoke, Va.; two grandchildren, Logan LeCarl Pearson-Hines and Caden Christian Sawyer, both of Greenville; three sisters, Carolyn Wasson Miller (Weldon) of Charlotte, Gail Linney Powell (John), and Glenda Wasson, both of Statesville; three brothers, John Calvin "Pete" Linney, Michael Timothy Wasson (Betty), both of Statesville and Steven Maurice Wasson of Charlotte; five sisters-in-law, Shelia Wasson, Dehaven Linney, Anita Linney, Linda Summers (John), and Gloria Brown, all of Statesville; two brothers- in-law, James Pearson (Jean) and Issac Stockton, both of Statesville; aunt, Mary Wasoson, of Statesville; uncle, Kenneth (Virginia) Sharpe, of Charlotte; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. Celebration of Life services will be conducted at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, May, 17, at the Calvary Presbyterian Church, Statesville. Pastor Timothy Bates will officiate. Members of the family will receive friends at the church from 11 to 11:30 a.m. (one half-hour prior to the funeral), but will assemble at the residence at all other times. Visit the Book of Memories for Mrs. Pearson at www.rutledgeandbigham.com. The Rutledge and Bigham Mortuary, Statesville, is serving the Pearson family.