Doris Beasley Hannah Ross

Doris Beasley Hannah Ross passed away peacefully just days before her 95th birthday in her home in Black Mountain, NC. Doris was born December 27th, 1927 in Louisburg, NC to the late Fisher Jones and Rilla Fuller Beasley. She attended schools in Louisburg and preparatory school in Baltimore. She attended the Greensboro Women’s College and transferred to UNC-CH from which she graduated in 1947 with a degree in Sociology and as a member of Alpha Delta Pi, serving as house manager during her senior year. Upon graduating, she utilized her sociology degree to pursue a career in social work, later attaining a teaching certificate from Pfeiffer College which enabled her service as a substitute teacher.

In 1950 she married Dr. Walter White Hannah from Johnson City Tennessee. While serving in the US Army, he was stationed in Nuremberg Germany as an Internal Medicine physician where they lived from 1950-53 and had two children. Walter passed away several years later, and Doris returned to North Carolina to be close to family. She was introduced to Thomas Lee Ross, a widower with three children, and they married in 1960. At the time, Mr. Ross was Vice President and Trust Office of Cabarrus Bank and Trust Co, and eventually became President and Chairman.

They combined families and went on to have two more children to make a full house of seven children that over the years included many beloved dogs and the other animals. Her husband passed away in 2006, and shortly thereafter, Doris moved to Black Mountain where she lived next door to her son David and his wife Katie for the next 15 years. There she lived a life full of laughter, and music and was cared for at home with tremendously loving caregivers. Doris was a gifted pianist who could sight read complex pieces, including into her advanced years. Also, a gifted athlete, she was the Southern US badminton champion. Doris was devoted to her children, and she spent many hours mentoring them to ensure their success. Her many grandchildren refer to her as Nanny Doris, and she was known for her “Nanny Doris cookies”.

Doris was an advocate for the underserved and was involved in numerous community outreach projects. Doris received several awards including an honorary life membership from the Presbyterian Women at First Presbyterian Church, a Jefferson award which celebrated her public service, and she was the first non-Rotarian to be honored as a Paul Harris Fellow for her work in the community by the Concord Rotary Club.

Preceding her in death were her husbands, Thomas Lee Ross, Jr. and Walter White Hannah; siblings, Fisher Jones Beasley, Jr., Robert Fuller Beasley, Rebecca Beasley Simpson, and Mary Fuller Beasley Peterson, and her daughter Elizabeth Ross Bare.

Mrs. Ross is survived by her children, Thomas Lee Ross III of Blowing Rock, Leslie Ross of Raleigh, Rebecca Hannah Patten of Concord, Walter White Hannah Jr. of Concord, David Fuller Ross of Black Mountain, and Laura Ross Loehr, of Durham; ten grandchildren, Elizabeth Warren-Mikes of Chicago, Adelle Patten of Washington, DC, William and Hannah Ross Patten of Concord, Caroline Tayloe of Charlotte, Hadley Ross of Washington, D.C, Kayla Smith of Fuquay-Varina, Laura Hannah of San Luis Obispo, CA, Ross Hannah of Pittsboro, Millicent and Carson Loehr of Durham; and 5 great-grandchildren.

There will be a memorial service at 2pm on Monday, December 26th at First Presbyterian Church in Concord. The family will receive guests in the fellowship house following the service.