Mrs. Bilyeu, Former Miss Margaret Ray, Has Died, July 18, 1926

A Beautiful Tribute Paid. . . Death of Mrs. H.P. Bilyeu Recalls Loyalty Evidenced During Dark Days at Elise

Hemp, July 15—The news of the death of Mrs. H.P. Bilyeu, who was before her marriage some years ago Miss Margaret Ray, daughter of the late D.S. Ray and Mrs. Lura Pleasants Ray of Carthage, was received by the people of this vicinity with deepest regret.

We think back to the year 1916 when she came to us as a teacher of English in Elise High School in the fall after her graduation at Flora McDonald College, she was but a slip of a girl, and beautiful in the glory of her youth.

She assumed her duties like a veteran, and it may be said that “she served with vigor” as the war came on and the shortage of money curtailed the staff of teachers so this made the work of the teachers employed, hard, almost double.

At times it seemed that the school would have to close its doors and it is largely due to the services rendered by “Miss Ray” and the beloved lady principal, Miss Isabelle MacLeod, who came to us with Miss Ray and still toils, that the school was held together through those trying years of war, flu and general upheaval.

During the first and second epidemics of influenza, she have herself unsparingly almost recklessly to the sick in the school, the town and country until finally in the last epidemic she was stricken sorely herself.

In 1918 she was married to H.P. Bilyeu of Pinehurst, where they lived for a couple of years. They moved from there to Greensboro, where they have resided since.

In 1918 she was married to H.P. Bilyeu of PInehurst, where they have resided since.

Mrs. Bilyeu leaves a husband and two children, Master H.P. Bilyeu Jr. and little Margaret Ray Bilyeu of Greensboro, a mother, Mrs. Lura Ray, and three sisters, Misses Elizabet and Rebecca Ray of Cameron, and Mrs. O.F. Taylor Cheraw, S.C., and two[three?] brothers, E.L. Ray of Asheboro; Norfleet P Ray of Pinehurst, and Dan S. Ray of Vass, and a host of friends whose lives will ever be encircled by having loved her, and her influence of dauntless courage, as her sweet spirit remains with them to bless them.

Surely God could not have plucked from earth for himself a lovelier, sweeter flower.

From the front page of The Pilot, Vass, N.C., July 16, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073968/1926-07-16/ed-1/seq-1/