Anne S. Mace, 81
SMYRNA - Anne Hunter Sharpe Mace passed away peacefully at home Friday, April 16, 2021. Born in Gastonia, North Carolina Sept. 2, 1939, she was the daughter of Robert C. and Mary K. Sharpe of Cherryville, N.C., where she graduated from Cherryville High School in 1957. She played saxophone in the high school band. Her family attended First Baptist Church in Cherryville where she played the piano for Sunday school and the organ for evening services.
She earned a bachelor of arts degree in public school music and organ in 1961 from Meredith College in Raleigh, N.C., where she met Samuel V. Mace who graduated from nearby N.C. State College, now university.
Sam and Anne were married June 30, 1962 at First Presbyterian Church in Cherryville, N.C. They lived in Maryland, Sam's home state, and Anne's first teaching job was at Bakerfield Elementary in Aberdeen where she instructed elementary school music. When Sam was in the U.S. Army in Asmara, Ethiopia, Africa, Anne taught music at the U.S. Army Dependents' School from 1963-64. After Sam's service in the Army, they moved to Hazard, Kentucky because Sam took a job with the forestry service there, and Anne taught music at M.C. Napier High School.
When Sam accepted a job as the forest manager at Blackbird State Forest in Delaware in 1969, Anne started her 31-year career in the Smyrna School District, substituting and teaching music and art part-time at Thomas D. Clayton School. In 1970, Sam and Anne moved to Smyrna, and in the fall of 1971, Anne started teaching music two days a week at Clayton Elementary and three days a week at North Elementary. In 1981, she was honored as the Smyrna School District Teacher of the Year. She earned her master's degree from Wilmington University and finished her career teaching music five days a week at Clayton Elementary. Through the years, she directed numerous school plays and concerts, started an after-school music program for gifted and talented students and played the piano for some Smyrna High School Drama Club performances.
She taught piano lessons for many years at her home for dozens of children and adults.
She was an active member at Asbury United Methodist Church in Smyrna where she played the organ for 17 years while also serving as choir director for several years. She played piano for children's choirs and helped with the start of the handbell choir. She was a member of the Mary Martha Circle and helped with the church's nursery and bazaar.
Anne was a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society for women educators and the American Association of University Women.
She organized holiday family gatherings, birthday parties and family vacations, and she kept in touch with family and friends through letters, cards on their birthdays and Christmas, and later by email. For many years, she grew roses and always made sure a rose was on display at Asbury Church in honor of the birth or baptism of a baby.
Anne was a wonderful cook. With the produce Sam raised in their garden, she canned fruits and vegetables and made jams and jellies that she gave as Christmas gifts.
She loved watching a variety of sports including Smyrna High School games, college football and her favorite – ACC college basketball featuring teams from her home state.
In addition to her husband; she is survived by two sons, Bradley Mace of Burlington, N.C. and Ben Mace and his wife Sherry of Smyrna; five grandchildren, Zachary, Abigail, Samuel, Robert and Everett; a niece, Mary Margaret Cooksey Eichen and her husband Darren; two great-nieces, Mary Caroline and Rose; and several cousins. Anne's younger sister, Margaret Cooksey, passed away in 2013.
The private funeral service will be livestreamed on the Asbury United Methodist Church Facebook page Thursday, April 22, 2021 at 10 a.m. The public graveside service will follow at 11 a.m. at Glenwood Cemetery, Glenwood Avenue, Smyrna.
Instead of flowers, the family suggests donations in Anne's memory to Asbury United Methodist Church, 20 W. Mt. Vernon St., Smyrna, DE 19977.
Condolences may be sent by visiting www.fariesfuneralhome.com.