Joan Marie Pegram Reece

Joan Marie Pegram Reece, 76, of Pittsboro, N.C., passed away Monday, May 13, 2013. Mrs. Reece is survived by her husband of more than 50 years, L. Vance Reece, Jr.; children Martha Reece Collins and Jeffrey Martineeece; son-in-law Larry Cooper and daughters-in-law Julie Machesky and Helena Bowes; grandchildreneessica Collins, Marcus Reece, Melody Thomas, Paul Whitley, Jason, Jared and Kyle Cooper, and Jena Machesky; siblings Chester Pegram, Wayne Pegram, Gail Hoecherl and Mona Brannon. A son, Kenneth Vance Jene Reece, and a brother, Ralph Pegram, predeceased her in 2010. Mrs. Reece was a member of Mt. Gilead Baptist Church in Pittsboro, where she was a devoted choir member and director of Sunday school. Born April 5, 1937 in Martinsville, Va., Mrs. Reece grew up ineeidsville, N.C. She graduated summa cum laude in mathematics from Elon College in 1962. She retired from the Environmental Protection Agency, in Durham, N.C., in 1998 after a 28-year career as a computer specialist. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, May 17 at Mt. Gilead Baptist Church. Hall-Wynne Funeral Service and Cremation in Pittsboro is handling arrangements. The family will receive guests at a reception in the church fellowship hall after the ceremony. Interment will be at a later date in Dan View Cemetery, Eden, N.C. during a private family gathering. In lieu of flowers, contributions canee made to Mt. Gilead Baptist Church, 1785 Mount Gilead Church Road, Pittsboro, N.C., 27312.