Marie (Shelton) Lineberger

Marie Lineberger died April 9, 2026 at the age of 96. She was a beloved mother, aunt,
grandmother, and great grandmother, and faithful friend to many in the Alexis community. She
was a pillar of Alexis Baptist Church, where she was a member from fifth grade. She served as
Sunday School teacher and department leader for at least 35 years. Later she sang in the
senior choir and helped prepare food for church events in the Hut and Red Room.

Her house was the one where most of the neighborhood boys congregated during the
childhood of her three sons, Neil, Gary, and Charles. Several were designated as “fourth sons”
because they spent so much time there. She was “Aunt Ree” to at least two generations of
nieces and nephews and their children. She was “Mimi” to her brothers, Harold, Jack, Ray,
William, and Leroy, and her sisters, Doris and Irene (all deceased). They teased her as being a
fearful and shy child, but as adults she was the one they turned to when they needed support.
She was born in Shelby, North Carolina on September 19, 1929 (“9, 19, 29,” she would proudly
say when asked for her date of birth. “I did that so it would be easy to remember!” Her parents,
Nelson and Estie Shelton, eventually moved to the farm in Alexis, North Carolina where Nelson
had been raised by his grandparents. Being the oldest daughter, she was the “assistant
mother” in the family throughout her childhood.

She married Robert (Bobby) Lineberger in 1948. He proposed and she accepted on their
second date, leading most of both families at first to disapprove of the union. But their happy
marriage lasted for the rest of his life, which ended in 1994.
They built a house together in 1952 near the farm where her parents lived. Marie gave up her
textile job soon after and worked full time as a wife and mother. She was a talented
seamstress, making many of the clothes her sons wore. She also did sewing for members of
her extended family, a practice she continued at least until her eighties.
She was an excellent cook and baker, famed for her pound cakes and other goodies. Her only
culinary regret was that she never figured out how to make biscuits as good as her mother’s,
although hers were mighty good.

She loved family gatherings, especially at holidays, at her house. She delighted in her family,
including grandchildren, spouses, and great grandchildren. She is survived by two of her sons,
Neil (and wife Joyce) and Gary (Mary Ann). Her youngest son, Charles, is deceased. His widow,
Kris, remains a part of the family. Grandchildren are Laura Bailey, Kristen Lineberger (Thomas
Byrd), Julie Wilson (Joe), Andy Lineberger (Katie), Meggie Lineberger, Emma Lineberger, and
Hank Lineberger. Great grandchildren are Emily Rose Zarate, Annie Wilson, Hadley Lineberger,
Isabelle Bailey, Lily Wilson, and Asher Lineberger.

Marie enjoyed gardening and even when her advanced age kept her from working actively at it,
she enjoyed looking at the flowers she had planted around her yard. She proudly stayed in the
same house and took care of her own cooking and personal care for the entirety of her life,
except for her final few months. She praised the care she got at Stanley Total Living Center, but
she frequently asked visitors to take her home, where she always belonged.

Woodlawn Funeral Home of Mount Holly, North Carolina, is handling arrangements. The funeral
at Alexis Baptist Church is scheduled for April 18, 2026, at 12:00 PM, with visitation at 11:00
AM.

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