05/19/2023
Anne Varley, a long time, beloved participant in the Yokefellows Prison Ministry at Orange Correctional Center, died on April 24, 2023 at age 98. Anne was born in Columbia, South Carolina in 1925 and attended St. Mary’s Junior College in Raleigh, later earning an A.B. degree in 1946 at Salem College. Anne then taught high school history in Mecklenburg County for two years before moving to Chapel Hill with her husband Bob Varley. After 23 years spent as a mother of four and ab active homemaker, Anne reentered the work force in 1973, serving as Director of the Social Studies and Science Resource Center at Chapel Hill High School. Eventually, she accepted a position as the Central Receptionist for the Carolina Student Union on the UNC Chapel Hill campus where she came to know thousands of UNC students and faculty members, some of whom she interested in prison ministry.
Along with her many other interests – the clarinet, master gardening, and the Church of the Holy Family in Chapel Hill, which she served in many roles, Anne volunteered with Yokefellows for over 30 years through her church’s outreach program. She was passionate about Yokefellows, sharing friendships, prayer, conversation, and refreshments (often homemade) with the residents at OCC, who returned her extraordinary kindness with their own love, affection, and respect. Anne attended Yokefellows faithfully until the Covid pandemic ended all visitation in early 2020, shortly after she turned 95 years of age. A memorial service will be held for Anne on Saturday, May 27 th at 11:00 am at Church of the Holy Family in Chapel Hill. The Yokefellows ministry was blest to have such a generous, lively, and devoted community volunteer throughout the past three decades.
Anne Varley died peacefully at home on Monday, April 24, at the age of 98. She was a beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother a church, school, and community volunteer and a friend and mentor. Anne had a great curiosity about nature and life and was a woman of profound faith.
