Mary was born on 1 December 1844. She was the daughter of
Leander Ray and
Margaret Riddle. She married
Solomon David Dellinger on 21 April 1866. Mary died on 18 May 1925 at age 80. Obituary of Mary Ann Ray Dellinger from the 25 June 1925 "N.C. Christian Advocate":
"On Sunday night, May 17, Mary Ann Dellinger, wife of S.D. Dellinger of the vicinity of Burnsville, N.C., passed from the labors of this life to the glorious reward of the life to come. She just slipped away without even a struggle to announce her going. The husband who was in the room at the time and was listening for stirring or breathing was not aware of the exact moment of her departure.
She did not have to go through the grave with it's gloom as some people say; she just the frail and worn-out body to be place there till the morning of the resurrection. But she herself just moved out, slipped away and went to join the loved ones who had gone before her, and there awaits the coming of the rest of the family and other dear ones.
She was born December 1, 1844, and died May 17, 1925, at the age of 81 years, five months and 14 days.
She had been a member of the M.E. Church, South, more than fifty years. She was reared a Baptist, but when she married her husband was a Methodist, and she realized the importance of a united home and went with her husband to the Methodist Church.
A number of years ago she had a very severe case of typhoid fever, and while she seemed to recover from it, she was never herself anymore. Her youngest son, Henry Lee, had it at the same time and died, and this seemed to affect her very much. She had been an invalid for several years and for the past two or three years had suffered a great deal; but loving hands of children and grandchildren have ministered to her, and especially the two daughters nearest her. Mrs. R.S. Ray, lliving in the house with her, was absolutely devoted to her, and she and her husband and the family of splendid children did everything they could to make her comfortable and happy; besides the constant attention of the husband who, although feeble himself, was constantly watching by the bedside and ministering to her wants. The other daughter living nearest to her, Mrs. W.J. Baker, rendered great assistance in caring for mother. The children who were farther away visited and helped as they could.
She leaves the husband, who is more than eighty years old, and the following children: Thomas G. Dellinger, Mrs. R.S. Ray and Mrs. W.J. Baker of the immediate community, Mrs. J.P. Gibbs of Burnsville, N.C. and Mrs. E. Myers of Concord, N.C., and a large number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
May we all so live that when we have crossed the river one by one we shall have the happy family reunion over there. And may the blessed Comforter comfort and sustain each and every one, and especially Father Dellinger in his feebleness and loneliness.. Her body was interred in May 1925 at
Pensacola, Yancey Co., North Carolina, at Dellinger - Ray Cemetery.