Mary Ann Gregory

Mary Ann Gregory, 78, of Hickory, died January 31 st , 2026 at Trinity Ridge. Born June 23rd, 1947, in Atlanta, GA, she was the daughter of the late John Wesley Pittman and Doris Blanche Pittman. She received her bachelor’s degree from Queens University and her master’s degree from Appalachian State University. She taught in Catawba County Schools with most of her teaching career at W. A. Murray Elementary School. Mary Ann taught the first aerobics classes in Hickory in the 1970’s at her business, Contemporary Aerobics, as well as at Lenoir Rhyne University where she additionally instructed a teacher education class. She was a member of First United Methodist Church of Hickory, where she was active in the Ladies Circle Number Four. At FUMC, she and Jim were youth counselors, and charter members of the Pairs and Spares Sunday School class. Mary Ann served on the board of the Humane Society of Catawba County and served as a docent for the Hickory Landmarks Society. She was a performer in the Louis Nunnery School of Ballet and taught disco dancing. Mary Ann was an avid reader, loved art and music, and attended concerts and theatre regularly. She and her husband loved to travel both in and out of the US, the Caribbean, Central America, and Europe, with tropical destinations being their favorite. Mary Ann loved her family, her friends, and her cats.

She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Jim H. Gregory of the home, two brothers: Thomas Pittman and his wife Tina of Jasper, GA and Wesley Pittman and wife Elizabeth of Brattleboro, VT. Also, she is survived by nieces and nephews in various cities.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her sister, Susan Pittman Torchia of Chicago, IL.

A Memorial Service will be held at Jenkins Funeral Home, 4081 Startown Road, Newton on Wednesday February 18 th, 2026 at 11:00 AM. The service will be officiated by The Rev. Paul Christy. Jim and family will receive guests starting at 10:00 AM prior to the Memorial Service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hickory Landmarks Society, PO Box 2341, Hickory, NC 28603.

Please sign the online guestbook on the Memorial Wall at www.jenkinsfuneralhome.net. The Gregory family has entrusted arrangements to Jenkins Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Newton 828-464-1555.