Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

February 7, 2025

CHARLOTTE – Mary Vance Allison of Charlotte died peacefully on Friday, February 7, 2025, at the age of 101.  She was the elder child of Mary Carpenter Vance and Homer Dewey Vance of Fort Carpenter, Covington, Virginia.

An accomplished artist, she signed her artwork MEV, her maiden initials, and was subsequently known to friends and family as Mev.  She began winning art awards in newspaper contests at 8 years old and was awarded numerous books as prizes.  Later, she won awards across NC such as the Governor’s Award and first place for watercolor in an NC Arts Council show in Greensboro. She was a member of the Guild of Charlotte Artists.  

As an accomplished pianist who could also play by ear, she played in a local jazz band in high school.  She played throughout her life, and for many years was the pianist for the Men’s Bible Class at Myers Park Presbyterian Church, until vision problems arose. 

She attended Mary Baldwin College, as did her mother, starting at the early age of 16.  She graduated with a double major in Art and Psychology.  It was there she met her future husband, Rufus, who was earning his doctorate in Organic Chemistry at the University of Virginia.  They were married on October 14, 1944 and celebrated 62 wonderful years together.  After living in Akron, Ohio for a brief time, they moved to Birmingham, Alabama where Rufus worked at the Southern Research Institute.  Their two daughters were born in Birmingham, Mary Evelyn and Carol Elizabeth.  The family moved to Charlotte in 1953 where their son, Rufus Kite Allison, Jr., was born. 

Mev and Rufus were longtime members of Myers Park Presbyterian Church where Mev participated in service activities and her husband was a Deacon and Elder.  

Mev traveled widely with her husband, including to Europe, Scandinavia and even the Amazon.  She loved playing golf and bridge with friends.

Mev is survived by her children, Lynn Allison and husband, Lex Starun, Carol Allison Martell, and Rufus "Ray" Allison, Jr. and wife, Patty; grandchildren include Eryn Mead Starun, Nathaniel (Nate) Alexis Starun (Jaeyoung) and Allison Martell Heath (Mike); great-grandchildren include Asher Evelyn, Bayard and Clara Nelle.  She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Rufus Kite Allison, and her sister, Elizabeth Traynham Good of Wilmington, Delaware.

A graveside service will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, February 21, 2025, at Evergreen Cemetery, 4426 Central Avenue, Charlotte, NC.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be offered in memory of Mary to the donor’s favorite charity.

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences may be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.