Edith Harris Arthur passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 23, 2012 at Carolina Meadows Retirement Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

She was born Edith Varina Harris on March 14, 1921 in the Weeksville Community of Pasquotank County near Elizabeth City. She was the daughter of Walter Pritchard Harris and Lillian Mae Swain Harris. She graduated from Weeksville School and East Carolina Teacher’s College, now ECU, in 1942 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Home Economics. She taught Home Economics in the Lenoir County Schools for 6 years followed by serving 2 years as Home Demonstration Agent with the NC Extension Service in Onslow County. There, she met her husband, Billy Arthur, and they married in 1950.

In 1954, Mrs. Arthur and her husband moved to Chapel Hill. In 1962 they opened, owned, and operated a successful hobby and handicraft store in Chapel Hill, named Billy Arthur, Inc., until 1975. Mrs. Arthur enjoyed traveling with her husband to the beaches and to the mountains of NC, and cruising in the Caribbean. They sold the business in 1975, retired in 1976, and moved to Carolina Meadows in 1986, where they were one of the first residents.

At Carolina Meadows, Mrs. Arthur co-chaired the Carolina Meadows gift shop and was the principal buyer for 2 years. She also served a two-year term as resident member of the Carolina Meadows Board of Directors. She was a very active volunteer in the gift shop and the library, and served on many dining service committees.

Mrs. Arthur was predeceased in death by her husband, William Joseph (Billy) Arthur, Sr., at Carolina Meadows, and her brother, Wilbur Harris of Greensboro.

She is survived by her two children, a daughter, Annis Arthur-Boursse of Pinole, California; and a son, Billy Arthur, Jr., of Snow Camp; her son-in-law, Andre Boursse, and a grandson, Ryan Boursse, San Francisco, California.

A memorial service will be conducted on Friday, November 16, 2012 at 2 PM in the Auditorium at Carolina Meadows in Chapel Hill.

In lieu of flowers, Mrs. Arthur requested that memorials be made to the Carolina Meadows Employee Appreciation Fund, 100 Carolina Meadows, Chapel Hill, NC 27514; to Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 632 Laurel Hill Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27514; or to UNC Hospice, P. O. Box 1077, Pittsboro, NC 27312; or to the charity of your choice.