Mary Lee Justice McElrath, 92, of Canton, passed away peacefully to be with her Lord and Savior, on Friday, April 24, 2026 at Silver Bluff Village. 

A native of Haywood County, she was the daughter of the late John Albert and Effie Haney Justice. For over 40 years she had been a member of and played piano at Meadow Grove Missionary Baptist Church. Mary loved her church, her family, her friends and taking care of her yard.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Reeves McElrath, in 1984 and sister, Betty Allen.

She is survived by her children, John (Annette) McElrath, Eddie McElrath, and Mike (Tracy) McElrath and Gail (Ricky) Paxton; grandchildren, Josh (Amanda) McElrath, Jeffrey (Shaina) McElrath, Holly (Adam) Hatton, and Jared (Shane) McElrath; great grandchildren, Nathanael and Katelynn McElrath and Hunter Hatton; sister, Sarah (Pug) Fox; step grandchildren, Nicole (Shawn) Cochran, Megan (Josh) Freeman, and Boyd Lambert; and step great grandchildren, Brinley and Layla Cochran, Colton Freeman and Brayden and Emily Lambert.

A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00AM on Wednesday, April 29 in the chapel of Wells Funeral Home of Canton with Rev. Allen Blanton officiating. The family will receive friends for one hour prior to the service at 10:00am. Burial will follow the service at Crawford Ray Memorial Gardens.

The family wishes to express their heartfelt thanks to the staff at Silverbluff Nursing and Rehab and Spicewood Village for the care and love that she received.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Meadow Grove Missionary Baptist Church, 12 Meadow Grove Church Road, Canton, NC 28716.

Wells Funeral Home of Canton is entrusted with Mary Lee McElrath's care.