Mary “Celeste” Howell Maynor, age 69, went to her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, June 28, 2017. She was born in Hamlet, NC, daughter of the late Jesse Hilton Howell, Jr. and Alma Burrows Howell.

Celeste graduated from Hamlet High School in 1966 and earned an Associates Degree in Accounting from Kings College in Charlotte, NC. Celeste worked several years as a police dispatcher before moving to the NC Department of Public Safety, where she retired in 2003 as a Lieutenant. Celeste loved animals and fishing. She enjoyed volunteering at her church where she attended and was a member since childhood.

She is survived by her son Markus Waldrop, his wife Loren and their son Claude (Trey) of Clover, South Carolina; her brother Jesse Hilton Howell, III and his wife Kelly of Dacula, Georgia; one nephew, Hilton and two nieces, Micah and Hannah, several cousins and four close friends, Debra, Tommye, Maydean and Annet whom she loved very much.
Celeste was preceded in death by her beloved pets Pumpkin, Patches and Bear and leaves behind her furry companions Sable and Tank.

A memorial service in her honor was held at First Baptist Church, Hamlet, NC on Saturday, July 8, 2017 at 3:00pm. Visitation was from 2:00-3:00 pm at the church.

A special thank you to her caregiver Annet Stein and to Liberty Hospice of North Carolina.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Baptist Church in Hamlet, NC.

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