Mebane McDonald Archer

Mebane McDonald Archer passed away on January 23, 2012 in her 68th year. She died peacefully at her home in Charlotte, NC surrounded by her family. Mebane was born in Charlotte, NC on May 4, 1943 to the late Dr. Angus Morris McDonald Jr. and Mary Letitia Mebane McDonald. She is survived by her husband, John Milton Archer III, and her three children, Letitia Reed Hardcastle (Bill), Ashley Reed Walsh (Kevin) and Robert Brooks Reed III (Kara). She is also survived by her husband's children, John Milton Archer IV (Ellen), Charles Pressly Archer (Kelley) and Mary Catherine Archer Chesney (Robert). Additionally, she is survived by her sister and brother, Letitia McDonald Stoneman and Angus Morris McDonald III, her 16 grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Mebane graduated high school from Mt.Vernon, Washington,DC, and then attended Hollins College followed by the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill where she was a member of Chi Omega sorority. After graduating from UNC in 1965, she married Robert Brooks Reed, Jr. and then lived in Shreveport, LA, Houston, TX and then Dallas, TX. She returned to Charlotte, NC in 1986 where she met John and they were married in 1996. Mebane and John also shared a home in Franklin, NC, where she enjoyed the small town life in the mountains where her husband grew up. Her flower and vegetable gardens demanded much of her time, but she and John enjoyed hiking the Appalachian Trail in the Nantahala Mountains, the many trails in Panthertown, and leading her grandchildren on hikes to Rufus Morgan Falls. Hiking to Mt. LeConte in the wintertime was one of her favorite stories. Canoe and raft trips on the Nantahala River, raft trips in Idaho, skiing in Colorado and Utah, traveling with friends in Italy and France, and visits to many of our national parks all exemplified her love for the outdoors. She introduced her "city grandchildren" to the brambles and briars of blackberry picking, the growing, picking, and eating of fresh blueberries right off the bushes. Mebane had a wonderful talent for flower arranging, always having her beautiful, fresh flowers throughout her mountain home. When time permitted, a round of golf at Charlotte Country Club with her sister Letty was enjoyed. Her passion for family largely dominated her life. She was a caring, selfless, and conscientious daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt and grandmother. Never did she put her thoughts and wishes before others. She cherished her friendships in a quiet way, and visits from grandchildren as well as children became the highlights of her life. When not at Myers Park Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, she worshipped at Morrison Presbyterian Church, a 125 year old country church with a congregation of less than 100 just outside of Franklin. The family wishes to thank Drs. Al Hudson and Jim Boyd, the Palliative and Hospice teams of Presbyterian Hospital for their care in making Mebane as comfortable as possible. They all are very caring professionals. The family also wishes to thank the many friends and family of Mebane who provided much love, prayer, and sustenance. She indeed was buoyed by these many acts of kindness. Memorials may be made to the American Red Cross, Crisis Assistance Ministry, or the Presbyterian Hospice and Palliative Care. -

Service Information

Thursday, January 26th, 2012 2:00pm, Myers Park Presbyterian Church

Interment Details

Private