Catherine Rhame Noblitt

Catherine Rhame Noblitt was welcomed into Paradise by her Lord and Savior on June 25, 2024. She passed peacefully at Alamance Regional Hospital after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Mary Catherine Rhame was born on December 4, 1941, to the late Edward Clarkson Rhame and the late Mary Goodale Rhame. She was preceded in death by the love of her life, Charlie Noblitt, and her sister, Geraldine Rhame McEwan. Catherine was a 1959 graduate of Camden High School in Camden, SC, and attended Winthrop University.

Early in her married life, Catherine was a happy stay-at-home mom to her two daughters, Caroline & Suzanne. In 1979, she began her work with Buncombe County Schools, where she was a 1st grade teacher’s assistant at the former Sand Hill Primary School. In 1984, she moved to her position as Assistant Registrar at A-B Tech Community College. She enjoyed her job there for 22 years until her retirement in 2006. She loved children of all ages and was happy to have known, helped, and mentored them for her entire career.

To say that Catherine had a “Pollyanna” personality type is truly an understatement. Always the life of the party, she possessed a deep, gravelly voice, and a laugh that would fill any room. Quick to love, she never met a stranger and to know her was to love her. She meant so much to so many people, but her favorite roles (by far) were wife, mama, and Gammie.

Her marriage to Charlie lasted 45 years, and he asked her to marry him on their very first date. Catherine replied, with her typical quick wit, “Who says you have to be in love to marry…of course I will.” Needless to say, it was a successful union that brought both of them many years of joy.

Catherine is survived by her two devoted daughters, Caroline Noblitt Atkinson and her husband Colin, and Suzanne Noblitt Buesing and her husband Leslie. She is Gammie to four wonderful grandchildren: Catie Atkinson, Will Atkinson, Hannah Atkinson, and Zachary Buesing. They loved spending the summers at “Gammie & Papa Camp,” where what happened there stayed there. She was known to take them in their PJs for a “hot” Krispy Kreme doughnut late at night and let them stay up until the wee hours of the morning. She often said that being Gammie to the four was “the most fun she ever had.” After Charlie’s death in 2010, she moved to the Mebane/Hillsborough area to be with them daily. It was a joy to witness the relationship between Gammie and her babies; it was undoubtedly one of the greatest blessings in her life. Catherine was fun-loving, warm, and ALWAYS there for those she adored. Family and friends were everything to her, and she loved fiercely. Each relationship Catherine had was equally important, and everyone was her “favorite.”

Catherine’s love for her family was incredible, but was only eclipsed by her love for the Lord. Her faith was unwavering, and her constant prayer was for God’s will to be done. Regardless of the many obstacles that came her way, she proudly soldiered on with the knowledge that God was in control. Catherine was a faithful member of her beloved home church, Acton United Methodist, for over 45 years and happily served in any capacity she could.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the wonderful staff at White Oak Manor of Burlington, who took tremendous care of Gammie. Having spent time there daily for the past six years, they all became like family to us. We will be eternally grateful for their love and support.

A funeral service will be held at Acton United Methodist Church on July 13, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made honoring Catherine’s memory to Acton United Methodist Church or St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue.