Kathleen "Kay" T. Overby

Kathleen Overby, 90, of Axtell, NC passed away peacefully on May 27th, 2026 at Kerr Lake Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Kathleen Elizabeth was born late in the afternoon on July 8th, 1935 in Granite City, Illinois to her loving parents Martha and Lynwood Tomlinson. The eldest child and only daughter of three, she loved being in the company of her family, especially her mother. As a young child her family relocated to Franklinton, North Carolina to farm and be closer to the Tomlinson homestead.

As a girl, she grew up helping her father on the farm, dodging close calls with a notoriously fast rooster, and spending time with her brothers Dick and Eddy. An avid learner, Kay loved to read books, especially The Bible. She graduated from Franklinton High School in 1954, and soon began working as an Operator for the Carolina Telephone and Telegraph Company until 1983 when she retired.

Kay met her late husband Marvin Durant Overby Jr. on a balmy summer day in line for hot dogs at the Raleigh Road Drive-In. After a modest time spent dating, they were married on March 28th, 1958 - celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary with friends and family at Brown’s Baptist Church in 2008. On August 7th , 1959 they welcomed their daughter Donna Lyn Overby into their family. Kay was a devoted mother whom her daughter admired and cherished her whole life. Kay also looked after Donna’s many childhood pets including her beloved terrier Trixie Lyn and her horse, Patches. In 1984, she became a Mimi her grandson Daniel Thomas Abbott.

Throughout her life, she enjoyed serving the Lord and was a devoted member of Brown’s Baptist Church, serving on the Women’s Missionary Union. She was a familiar face at the Henderson J.C. Penney where she worked for many years after retiring from the telephone company. She loved working hard, serving the Lord, and cooking for her family. Her famous summer squash casserole will be dearly missed!

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, June 3rd, 2026 at 12 P.M. at Brown’s Baptist Church by Rev. Jake Roberson. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Kay was preceded in death by her mother and father, Martha and Lynwood Tomlinson, her husband Marvin Overby Jr., her beloved brothers Dick and Eddy Tomlinson, her aunt Louise Tomlinson Kearney, her daughter Donna Abbott, and her loving roommate Mrs. Anne Cox.

She is survived by her grandson Daniel Abbott; her son-in-law Durward Abbott; her many nieces and nephew, Pam, Betsy, Sandra, Susan, Deb, Marcille, Kitty, Jennifer, and Rob; and her cousins Kelly and Patty Lyn.

The family wished to express its deepest gratitude to Sarah Lloyd, Cathy Carver, Brigitte Langston, Linda Lee, all the staff at Kerr Lake Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and her Brown’s Baptist Church family for all their help, visits, and support.

The family will receive friends Wednesday prior to the service beginning at 11:30 A.M. at Brown’s Baptist Church.