Gretchen Johnson Corbitt

Asheville - Gretchen Johnson Corbitt, 84, of 25 Cardinal Drive died Thursday, September 1, 2005 at the Mountain Area Hospice Solace Center. She was born December 20, 1920 in Taylors Bridge, N.C. and was the daughter of the late Rev. L.L. and May Garner Johnson. She was married December 22, 1949, in Harrells, N.C., to her husband of 46 years the late Rev. John C. Corbitt and was also preceded in death by her brother, Rev. Calhoun Johnson. Mrs. Corbitt was a member of Mt Carmel Baptist Church and served as a missionary in Jackson, Haywood and Macon Counties. She was formerly the Assistant Pastor of Franklin Baptist Church and taught music in McDowell County. She was a graduate of Mars Hill College, Meredith College and Southwestern Theological Seminary. She was the author of No Woman Had Gone and Journey Back To God and was a poet with one of her poems published in the National Library of Poetry. She was a member of the Colonial Dames and the Daughters of the American Revolution. Surviving are her son, J. Nathan Corbitt of PA; daughters, Alzada Portillos and Gretchen Robinson of NM and Rebekah Landes of Asheville; 20 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren; sisters, Thora Womble, Dolores Miller, Faith Lehman, Janet Ozer and Fonrose Rice and brother, A.B. Johnson. Memorial services will be held 2 p.m. Thursday, September 8, 2005 in the chapel of the Buncombe Baptist Retirement Home with Rev. Edgar Farrell officiating. Private burial will be in Harrells Cemetery in Harrells, NC.