Agness Wright Stewart, 79, of Valdese left us peacefully late Wednesday evening, following a difficult recovery from heart surgery. Mom was born September 23, 1945, in Mitchell County, daughter of the late Toss and Mattie Pitman Wright.
Mom was so much more than the years she spent on this earth. She was the heart and soul of our family…a devoted wife, an extraordinary mother, a doting grandmother, and a proud great-grandmother. She was a classy lady, inspired by her grandmothers and teachers. Spending time with her grandkids and great grandkids brought her immeasurable joy. Our entire family is lost without her. She was a selfless caregiver to the end of her life.
Mom worked in the school library where she developed her lifelong love of books. She thrived on broadening her mind on a variety of topics. She enjoyed working in her garden, cultivating an assortment of vegetables as well as tending to a variety of indoor and outdoor plants and flowers. Agness was world traveler and enjoyed cruising. She led an active life, putting conscious effort into health and lifestyle including lots of exercise, reading, and dietary awareness. She enjoyed nature and had a special affection for the birds.
Agness, first met my dad, Tom, at a carnival in 1961. They attended and graduated from the same high school. After four years of dating, they married.
Maintaining a marriage for over six decades is a remarkable testament to their enduring love and commitment. They built upon a foundation of mutual respect, trust, and open communication, as well as their ability to adapt and grow together through life’s inevitable changes. Together they approached challenges as a team, demonstrating patience, selflessness, and a willingness to forgive, always prioritizing their partnership. They valued laughter, cherished shared moments, time with family and never lost sight of the importance of supporting and truly liking one another, not just loving each other.
Maintaining a marriage for 60 years, 2 months and 9 days, is a rare and extraordinary achievement. Reaching this milestone together speaks volumes about the depth of their character, morals and the strength of their union.
Agness’s protective nature was fierce and unwavering, like a lioness guarding her pride. Lionesses defend territory, nurture their young as well as the young of others, and stand against any threat—Agness instinctively knew when to step in, protecting us from life’s hardships and always fighting for our well-being with her own quiet determination.
Her love was both a shield and a shelter. Like the lioness who will face any danger to protect her cubs, Agness was fearless when it came to her family. She taught us resilience, not just through words, but by her examples– showing true courage is found in standing up for those you love, even when it’s hard.
In short, Agness’s protectiveness and caregiving nature was the backbone of our family’s strength, unity, and resilience. She lives on in the bonds she forged and the values she instilled—reminding all who knew her of the power of love, loyalty, and unwavering support.
Agness is survived by her husband, Tom; daughter, Wendy Jamison – Tiffany Barwell and Tabitha Evans (Anthony) and great grandchildren, Natalie and Tony; daughter, Teri Morales (Joaquin) – Nikolas and Sam. She is also survived by her brother Sammy Wright and numeorus beloved nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her first-born daughter, Melissa Nell, as well as her beloved brothers, Jimmy and Toss Jr Wright.
We invite all who loved her to join us in a Celebration of Life on Saturday, May 31st, beginning at 1:00 PM. The service will begin at 1:00, followed by an informal gathering with refreshments. If you would like to bring an appetizer or dish to share, it is welcomed but not necessary just as Mom would have wanted.
We want to have ample time to share stories and reconnect with friends and family. Anyone with old photos is asked and encouraged to bring them to share. There will be a box and cards for those who wish to share a story, quote, or thought about Agness. These will be given to the family to cherish after the celebration.
There will not be a graveside service. The family will be having a private interment at an undisclosed time.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in her name to the Habitat for Humanity-Morganton https://www.burkehabitat.org/ or The American Diabetes Society https://www.americandiabetessociety.org/
Though our hearts ache with her absence, we will find comfort in the legacy she leaves behind—one of love, courage, and family. We will carry her memory with us always, striving to honor her by living as she did: with compassion, strength, and unwavering devotion.
Dear Wendy,
That was awesome, and you are awesome too! I think the world of your mom and dad, and feel my life may finally be getting somewhere, since I got to meet the rest of you!
I’ll see you there.
With much love, honor, and respect to your mother, Wesley Sanford.
Lewis and I send our love, condolences and prayers to Tommy, the children, grandchildren and family members.
We have some wonderful memories of the times we shared with Agnus. She was always warm, caring, friendly and hospitable. We shared precious conversations together. We will miss Agnus very much.
My name is Angela Noether, I met Agness through her dear husband Tom, we worked together in the 1980’s at IBM, Charlotte NC. I visited them several times in their Charlotte home and talked to Agness on the phone. Over the years I am the witness to see how much they loved each other. Agness was such a warm soul, I love her warm character and friendly personality. At the time my husband was working in Fayetteville NC so I actually visited them at their current home in 2014. She gave me a kitchen towel as a present, I have traveled around the globe although I had to threw everything away but I kept the kitchen towel with me throughout the years, because it meant a lot to me since it came from Agness, I miss her a lot and understand the loss of Tom and children. She is a bright star in the sky now, I will keep her in my memory as long as I live! Love Angela