Elizabeth Caldwell Currie

Mrs. Clara Elizabeth Caldwell Currie, 94, passed away Friday, March 9, 2018. Elizabeth was a long time resident of Red Springs, NC. Following the deaths of her husband, Lenton Worth, in January 2009 and her son, William Ronald in 2010, she moved to Scotia Village Retirement Community in Laurinburg. She was born in Mt. Ulla in Rowan County on June 14, 1923. The daughter of the late William and Clara Elizabeth Craig Marlin Caldwell, she grew up in a large family of nine children and was a member of the historic Thyatira Presbyterian Church. Elizabeth graduated Salutatorian of her Mt. Ulla High School class. She earned a degree from Womens College (UNC Greensboro) Class of 1940 with a degree in Home Economics. She later returned to UNC Greensboro to earn a Masters Degree in Science. She was asked by her former high school principal, J.W. Byers, to teach in Red Springs. She taught Home Economics at Flora McDonald College for eight years until it joined Maxton Presbyterian Junior College and moved to Laurinburg becoming St. Andrews Presbyterian College. After meeting Lenton Currie, Jr. she was asked to teach science, chemistry and physics at Red Springs High School. After teaching for 36 years, she retired in 1988. She touched the lives of many young people in her capacity as a teacher. Elizabeth was a FTA advisor for RSHS, a member of the North Carolina Education Association and Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. She attended Red Springs Presbyterian Church and was presented a Life Membership on September 21, 1982. She served a total of five years as president of the Women of the Church and held many offices. Elizabeth was a member of the Council of the Women of the Church and served many terms in that capacity. She was active in civic affairs and was a valued community leader. Elizabeth also served as a Cub Scout and Girl Scout leader and worked as circle chairman and as a member of numerous social committees. Along with her parents, Elizabeth was preceded in death by her husband, Lenton Worth, Son William Ronald (Ronnie), five brothers, William Theodore (Billy) Caldwell, John Robert Caldwell, Joseph Marlin (Buddy) Caldwell, Clyde Mitchell Caldwell, and Daniel Leonard (Dick) Caldwell; three sisters, Helen Marie Caldwell, Mary Anna C. Lingle and Sarah Ruth C. Brown. She was the fourth oldest of nine children. Surviving to celebrate her life are: daughter, Barbara Currie Wade and her husband, Lee; their children, Christopher Garrett Wade and his wife wife, Jennifer and their son, Lane of Henderson, NC; Stacey Wade Holland of Emerald Isle, NC; Daughter, Elizabeth (Beth) Currie Arquilla, husband Bruce of Palos Heights, IL; their children, Clare Elizabeth Arquilla of Crown Point, IN, Michael Bruce Arquilla of Dallas, TX and William Currie Arquilla of Chicago, IL. The family will receive friends between the hours of 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm on Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at Crumpler Funeral Home in Red Springs. A graveside service will be in the Alloway Cemetery at 1:30 pm on Wednesday, March 14, 2018 prior to the memorial service which will be held at the Red Springs Presbyterian Church at 2:30 pm, followed by a reception at the church fellowship hall. Officiating the service will be The Reverend Dr. Ray Ammons and The Reverend Becky Stanley.Memorials may be made to: The Red Springs Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 429, Red Springs, NC 28377 and/or The Presbyterian Homes Foundation, 2109 Sandy Ridge Rd, Colfax, NC 27235.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Elizabeth Caldwell Currie, please visit our floral store.