“Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.” – Proverbs 31:10

Catherine C. Ascott was born on August 30, 1946, in Hillsborough, North Carolina, to the late Mozelle Chavious. She passed away on Friday, June 20, 2025, at Duke Medical Pavilion in Durham, North Carolina.

Catherine was blessed with her only biological child, Ashley, as well as two bonus daughters, Heather and Devora. At an early age, Catherine joined Mount Bright Baptist Church in Hillsborough, NC. Later in life, after moving to Durham, she became a member of First Calvary Baptist Church in Durham, NC.

She was educated in the Orange County School System and attended Central High School in Hillsborough, NC. She proudly belonged to the Class of 1964, staying connected with her classmates and attending the 60th reunion in December 2024.

Catherine attended North Carolina College at Durham, now known as North Carolina Central University, where she enjoyed college life and built lifelong friendships. After earning her B.S. degree in Business Education in 1968, she began her teaching career in the fall of 1970 at Rogers Herr Middle School, where she taught until her retirement in 2002.

Catherine formed close bonds with many of her students and was deeply dedicated to their education, often going beyond her duties as a teacher. Despite holding a teaching certificate, she regularly attended conferences, workshops, and seminars to enhance her professional skills further.

Throughout her life, Catherine was a well-rounded person—active in her sorority, learning to sew, craft ceramics, garden, and even decorate cakes and cookies. She was always generous, sharing her baked goods with everyone who visited or crossed her path. She also started a baking business called Sweet Magnolia, selling her cakes and cookies at local stores and coffee shops.

Catherine was a caring daughter, cousin, neighbor, friend, and highly social person. She shared her wisdom, advice, knowledge, and experiences freely, especially with younger generations. She loved many things, particularly mentoring and talking about her youngest grandchildren, “Catie” and “Isaiah."

There are not enough words to describe “Cat”: Caring, Attentive, Truthful. Catherine was preceded in death by her mother, Mozelle Chavious; her sister, Helen L. Chavious; and her bonus daughter, Devora Black. She leaves behind a legacy of love and caring for her daughter, Ashley (John); her beloved grandchildren, Catie Ahlers and Isaiah Ahlers; and her other daughter, Heather A. King (Stanley) of Clemons, NC. She also leaves her grandchildren, Barrington Transou (Deja) of Dallas, Texas; Karsyn King and Braxton King of Clemons, North Carolina; and her great-grandson, Syre Transou of Dallas, Texas.

Her family includes William (Billy) H. Chavious, Jr., of Hillsborough, NC; Martha Laverne Daniels (Ira) of Elgin, SC; Nathaniel Chavious of Raleigh, NC; Marilyn F. Moffitt (Ellis) of Raleigh, NC; Martin R. Chavious (Gerald) of Chapel Hill, NC; and Lisa A. Stokes (Dwayne) of Snow Camp, NC. She also leaves a devoted cousin, Alice M. Walker; a special cousin, Barbara T. Prear; her goddaughter, Hope Boykin; along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends.

A celebration of life will be held Friday, June 27th at First Calvary Baptist Church, 1311 Morehead Ave, Durham, NC 27707. 11:00 a.m. - Ivy Beyond the Wall Ceremony, 11:30am - Visitation, 12:00pm - Service.