Martha Marie (Durley) Wheeler

Martha Marie Durley Wheeler, 84, passed away on April 27, 2026 at First Health Hospice Home in West End, NC.  Marie was born in Oxford, MS on July 26, 1941 to Edmond Clayton Durley and Thelma Crockett Durley.  Marie grew up on the family farm having a wonderful childhood with her parents and siblings.

Marie graduated from Union University in Jackson, TN and began her career as a high school teacher in Trenton, GA.  At the beginning of her second year of teaching, she met her future husband, Frank, who had come to Georgia as an engineer with his NC-based company to build an interstate highway.

Marie and Frank were married after a thirteen-month courtship and began their married life traveling to various states to complete highway jobs.  Their oldest daughter was born in Chattanooga, TN and youngest daughter was born in Durham, NC. In 1971, the family moved to Sanford, NC where Frank accepted a job with Sanford Grading Company.

Marie took care of her family and home and in 1978 accepted a job as a bookkeeper for Roy E. Mashburn, a land developer and owner of Texaco Gas distributorship.  She worked for him for 38 years and loved her job.

Marie was a member of Cool Springs Baptist Church and a member of the AAA Sunday School class which she loved.  She loved her pastor, Matt Martin, and associate pastor, Tim Burris.

Marie loved her family and was devoted to her husband, daughters and grandsons.  She was an avid reader, loved yard work, and was a very happy and content person.  She loved her Lord and Savior and wanted everyone to have the peace in their hearts that God had given her.

She leaves her precious daughters Katherine Wheeler of Holly Springs, NC, and Kimberly King (Kenneth) of Sanford, NC, grandsons Jackson Wheeler Schafer of Apex, NC, Benjamin Jon Schafer of Holly Springs, NC and Coen Robert King of Sanford, NC, a sister Jeanne Goodwill of Collierville, TN, and many nieces and nephews and extended family.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Frank, and her brothers Webber Durley, Byron Durley, Wayne Durley, and her twin brother Maurice Durley.

The family would like to thank First Health Hospice of West End for their wonderful care and special thanks to Jenny Riley, Neal Finchum, Tecosha Douglas, Jessica Smith, Dr. Kersbergen and Dr. Willard of Hospice.

Bridges-Cameron Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

A memorial service will be held at Cool Springs Baptist Church on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at 2:00 pm. Visitation with family and friends will be immediately after the service in the Narthex.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Cool Springs Baptist Church, 1313 Cool Springs Road, Sanford, NC 27330 or First Health Hospice, 251 Campground Road, West End, NC 28327

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