Mary Ellen Bender

Mary Ellen Bender, devoted mother, grandmother, counselor, and minister, passed away on January 29, 2026, at the Hospice House in Moore County, North Carolina. 

Born on March 5, 1939, in Leonia, New Jersey, Mary Ellen lived a life marked by compassion, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to service.

Mary Ellen attended Bennett College, graduating in 1960. During her time there, she and her friends were directly involved in the historic Greensboro sit-ins, an experience that impressed her deeply and shaped her life in enduring ways. She continued her educational journey by earning a master’s degree from the School of Applied Social Sciences at Western Reserve University in 1965. Mary Ellen never stopped learning—in her sixties, she pursued theological studies at Duke University Divinity School. These academic pursuits laid the foundation for a life dedicated to helping others.

Her career began in Nashville, where she supported vulnerable communities as an inner-city social worker. After Mary Ellen and her family moved to Asheville, North Carolina, she counseled at-risk teenage mothers through her work with the YWCA. Eventually relocating to Montgomery County, she became a guidance counselor at East Middle School and East Montgomery High School.

In the later chapters of her life, Mary Ellen answered a spiritual calling and entered the ministry. She served as an interim pastor at several churches across North Carolina, including congregations in Cool Springs and Robersonville United Methodist Church. Even into her seventies, her passion for healing and connection remained strong; she founded Haven Counseling—a practice through which she offered comfort and counsel to many seeking peace and direction.

A committed Christian and lifelong advocate for social justice, Mary Ellen drew strength from her Methodist faith. Her beliefs were not only professed but lived—through acts of kindness and the many lives she touched. Most recently, she devoted herself to leading a children’s book project alongside the food pantry at Southern Pines United Methodist Church.

Mary Ellen especially enjoyed time with friends and the simple pleasures of everyday life. An unabashed cat lady with a fondness for puzzles and Scrabble, she found joy in quiet evenings spent watching episodes of Monk or whatever happened to be on PBS, occasionally with a glass of Moscato in hand.

She is lovingly remembered by her son Lee Bock (Sarah), daughter Melody Thomas (BJ), and grandchildren Kate Bock, Sam Bock, and Kaylee Thomas. To them—and to all who knew her—she was a source of love, wisdom, and unwavering support.

Mary Ellen Bender’s legacy is one of compassion lived out loud—a life spent lifting others up with grace and purpose. May her memory bring comfort to all who knew her. A Celebration of Life will be held on February 28, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Southern Pines United Methodist Church, 175 Midland Road.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bennett College (https://www.bennett.edu/donation/) or Southern Pines United Methodist Church (https://southernpinesumc.org/give/).

Online condolences can be made at PinesFunerals.com.

Powell Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to serve Mary Ellen’s family.