Mary Catherine Dawson

Mary Catherine Campbell Dawson, age 72, passed away on December 16, 2024 in Rocky Mount, NC, which was also her mother’s birthday. Mary was born on December 3, 1952 in Ashtabula, OH to Chart and Betty Campbell. She graduated from Columbus High School in 1971, and went on to attend the University of Dayton for two years, before continuing her undergraduate studies at Indiana University Bloomington, where she completed her bachelor’s degree in political science. Throughout her adult life, Mary was a faithful member of the Catholic Church and a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Rocky Mount, NC. Her time on this earth was spent as a daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, and friend, where she loved cooking and antiquing. Mary could turn anything old into something new and reimagined with her uniquely creative mind. Her favorite time of year was the holidays when she would decorate, cook up a storm, and continue a family-loved tradition of Christmas cookies, which her daughters still believe is the best day of the year.

Mary leaves behind her loving daughters: Jennifer Dawson of Durham, North Carolina, Erin Gall of Rocky Mount, North Carolina and Jessie Guest (David) of Rock Hill, South Carolina. She leaves behind 2 grandchildren: Cadence Gall and Emma Guest, wonderful sisters: Karen Coulis and Nancy Caldemeyer, 3 nieces and a nephew, whom she loved very much. She was proceeded in death by her parents, Chart and Betty Campbell, her infant brother, Charlton Thomas Campbell II, and brother-in-law, Robert Caldemeyer.

A private Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, January 4,, 2025 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, with Father Tim Meares, celebrant. Her ashes will be interred at Rocky Mount Memorial Park’s Chapel on the Hill Mausoleum in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made to the charity of your choice in Mary’s name. To leave a message for the family, please visit https://www.cornerstonefuneralhomeandcremations.com/ . Cremation arrangements entrusted to Cornerstone Funeral Home & Cremations in Nashville, North Carolina.