Mary Jerome Spradley
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Sister Mary Jerome Spradley entered eternal life on February 27, 2021 in Sacred Heart Convent, Belmont, N.C. She was 92 years old and had been a Sister of Mercy for 72 years. She was the daughter of Espy Dewitt Spradley and Ferrill Edith Poole. She was born in Stanley, NC and enjoyed claiming Gaston County as her birthplace.
She graduated from the Mercy School of Nursing and shortly after realized her calling to the Catholic Church and religious life. She earned a baccalaureate and a master's degree in nursing from the Catholic University of America. She also graduated from the executive Graduate Program in Health Care from the University of South Carolina. At age 35 she was named Administrator of Mercy Hospital. She served on various North Carolina Hospital Association Committees. She was named Outstanding Career Woman of the Year in Medicine and related fields by the Central Charlotte Association. She received honorary Degrees as Doctor of Humane Letters of Belmont Abbey College and Sacred Heart College. She served on the Governor's Board of Ethics in NC, and several other Board of Directors in Sisters of Mercy ministries. She continues as a life Member Fellow in the American College of Health Care Executives.
Sister Mary Jerome served as a General Councilor of the Sisters of Mercy of NC, and Chait of the Sisters of Mercy of North Carolina Foundation
Her life has been one of service fulfilling her motto: "Now not I, but Christ."
Her accomplishments were many and impressive. She is best known for faithfulness, dependency, and consistency and for building construction. It was suggested that at Mercy Hospital she moved at least one wall a week. She may have accomplished almost everything she wanted except learning to play the piano.
She is predeceased by her parents, her brother Scott, and her sister, Ferrill. She is survived by the Sisters of Mercy, her niece Shirley Kennerly of Concord, her niece, Melissa Gormam of Concord, and her nephew, Scott of Flagler Beach, Florida.
A private funeral Mass was celebrated on Tuesday, March 2, 2021 in Sacred Heart Convent Chapel, Belmont, NC. Interment was at Belmont Abbey Cemetery. All services are private due to the restrictions of the Covid 19 pandemic, but there will be a Memorial Celebration for Sister at a later date. Funeral arrangements are with McLean Funeral Directors of Belmont.
Memorials may be sent to the Sisters of Mercy, Belmont, NC or the Sisters of Mercy Foundation, Belmont, NC, 28012.