Mary Lou Liles Knight, fondly known as Lou, died peacefully at home in Burlington, NC on September 17, 2024. Lou was born May 31, 1939 in Sanford, NC to the late John Wall Liles & Aileen Chamblee Liles. She graduated from Sanford High School in 1957 and from Salem College in 1961 with a degree in Home Economics.
That same year she married her childhood sweetheart, John Allen Knight. Lou and John met in kindergarten, dated through high school and college, and this year celebrated 63 years of marriage together. John was a loving and devoted spouse through all her days.
Lou is survived by her husband and their three children, Elizabeth (Libby) Knight Conde, John Allen Knight, Jr, and David Wall Knight (Avery). Lou adored her five grandchildren whom she cherished dearly: Banks Abel Conde, Alexander Janssen Knight, Ann Marie Liles Knight, Liles Wall Knight and Bowen Crandall Knight. She is predeceased in death by her brother John Wall “Jack” Liles, Jr and is survived by his children, John Wall Liles, III (MaryBeth) and Mary Howerton Liles.
Lou was a longtime and active member at First Presbyterian Church in Burlington serving as a Deacon, Sunday School Teacher, Youth Advisor, and held many positions in the Presbyterian Women’s organization. She was awarded the Honorary Lifetime Membership to the Presbyterian Women in 2005. Lou also served as a docent for the Alamance Arts Council and a member of the Board of Directors of the Alamance Historical Museum.
She was a devoted and loyal friend to many. She enjoyed her friends through the Town & Country Garden Club and the Coterie Club. She was a dedicated bridge player and played monthly with a group of special friends for over 50 years. Lou was an avid reader and also enjoyed traveling the world with John and their high school and Burlington friends. She loved spending time outdoors on the Knight farm, feeding and watching her birds and working in her beautiful flower garden.
A Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, October 4, at First Presbyterian Church. The Church is located at 508 W. Davis Street.
In Lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the First Presbyterian Church and Hospice of Burlington.
We want to thank all of the caregivers from Always Best Care and the Hospice staff who took care of Lou during her last months of life. They were crucial to her comfort during her last days and we are forever grateful.
