Mary Ann Braswell

Mary Ann (Ham) Braswell was born on April 20, 1976, in Kinston, NC. She let go of our hands and took the hand of Jesus on December 7, 2020. She passed surrounded by her greatest love, Anthony, and her two greatest joys, Blaire and Micah.

A native of Hugo, NC, Mary Ann grew up in Lenoir County and graduated from Bethel Christian Academy in 1994. She attended Mt. Olive College in Mt. Olive, NC, where she majored in Music and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1997. She and Anthony married a few weeks later, and celebrated everyday together after that for the next 23 years. They welcomed their baby girl in April 2000, and their baby boy in August 2003.

In 2006, the Braswells moved to Raleigh, NC, to plant Northpark Church. Some of the most meaningful moments of her life included serving and living life alongside this church family.

Several years ago, Mary Ann found even more extended family at Keller Williams Preferred Realty. She loved her work and the opportunities that she experienced, but she loved the people there even more.

Armed with southern charm and a smile, Mary Ann’s passion was helping others experience the reality of their dreams. Mary Ann loved to sing, read, and was an avid Hallmark Christmas Ornament collector. If she ever went missing, we knew to start looking for her at Cinderella’s castle at Disney World, her perfect place this side of heaven.

To have known Mary Ann was to love her. She had an effortless way of making anyone she encountered feel empowered and valued. Her work ethic was unmatched, and her attention to detail as well as her commitment to excellence were just a few of her many attributes. Her love for her family and friends was only outdone by her love for the Lord. Madeleine L’engle said, “We draw people to Christ not by loudly discrediting what they believe, by telling them how wrong they are and how right we are, but by showing them a light that is so lovely that they want with all their hearts to know the source of it.” No one personified this truth more than Mary Ann.

Her light and her love live on through all who knew her, especially her family, including her husband, Anthony Braswell, daughter, Madison Blaire, and son, Micah of Youngsville, NC; her parents, Allen and Glenna Ham of Hugo, NC; her sister Karen McGlamery, brother-in-law Devin McGlamery, niece Karlyn, and nephew Preston of Gallatin, TN; her grandmother Mary Ham of Kinston, NC; and her extended Braswell family. 

A celebration of life will take place Thursday, December 10, at 6:00pm at Richland Creek Community Church in Wake Forest, NC. The service will also be livestreamed (HERE) for anyone unable to be there in person. For those in attendance, we ask that you wear a mask at all times, even when seated, and to join us in worship through the online option if you are feeling unwell. 

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to Northpark Church through the Mary Ann Braswell Memorial Fund. Anthony, Blaire, and Micah will choose the causes, organizations, and needs that the contributions will go toward throughout the year in honor of Mary Ann. Donations can be made online through the “GIVE” option on the church website at NorthparkRDU.com, or by mail to Northpark Church at PO Box 99750, Raleigh, NC 27624.

Thank you again for the thoughts and prayers that have been, and continue to be, extended to the Braswell family. We are grateful to each of you for walking this journey with us.

Blessing the Family

So many of you have asked how you could help or bless Mary Ann’s family during this time. In conjunction with Anthony, Blaire, and Micah, we have come up with the few options that we feel would be the most helpful in this season, and also do the most to help honor Mary Ann. Simply click the icon box next to the opportunities listed here to view expanded details.

Here in the South especially, we know food is its very own love language. Unfortunately we are also currently living in the world of COVID-19. We want to keep everyone both inside and outside their home as safe as possible, particularly during this season.

Anthony and the kids are currently surrounded by family, many of whom put Paula Dean to shame in the kitchen. Meals, groceries, and household things are covered for now.

If you feel led to bless the Braswells in some way, meal gift cards are one of the best options. This will allow them to get the food they want, at whatever time of day or night they want/need it, not only now, but in the weeks and months to come.

Here are a few suggestions of eateries they enjoy if you are interested in this option:
GrubHub, DoorDash, Uber Eats, Chick-fil-a, Bojangles, Mod Pizza, Domino’s, Smithfield’s Chicken & BBQ, Carolina Ale House, City BBQ, Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar, Freddy’s, Chipotle, Jersey Mike’s, Pei Wei, Five Guys, McAlister’s Deli, Tenko Japan, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Showmar’s, The Border Restaurant (Wake Forest), Charron’s Deli (Youngsville), Pelicans, and Goodberry’s

Gift cards can be sent electronically to pastoranthony@discovernorthpark.com, or by mail to 150 Anna Marie Way, Youngsville, NC 27596.

Northpark Church has created the Mary Ann Braswell Memorial Fund. Anthony, Blaire, and Micah will choose the causes, organizations, and needs that the contributions from this fund will go toward throughout the year in honor of Mary Ann.

Donations to this memorial fund can be made online HERE, or by mail to Northpark Church at PO Box 99750, Raleigh, NC 27624.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

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