WILMINGTON — Charlotte Gretter Duffy Talbert of Wilmington died at home on October 4th after a wonderful and full 95 years, surrounded by her family and her sweet cat “Boots”. She was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, friend – and much more.
Gretter was born on April 4th, 1929, the daughter of Margaret Belle Rhodes and James Lee Duffy. She was the granddaughter of Isaac Bryant Rhodes and Rebecca Galloway Rhodes. On her paternal side, her grandparents were Major Patrick Francis Duffy and Charlotte Clopton Gretter of Greensboro. She was of the Richmond and Alexandria, Virginia Gretter family. The eighteen diaries of Michael Gretter, her great-great grandfather, dating from 1775, belong to the Virginia Historical Society.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, John T. Talbert, Jr., her sister Margaret Duffy Edmunds, and a nephew, James Bruce Edmonds.
Gretter grew up in Wilmington and attended New Hanover High School and Blackstone College in Virginia. In 1949, at the tender age of 19, she met a Citadel graduate, John Talbert from Allendale, South Carolina, and little did she know that that meeting would shape her world. They fell in love and were married for 54 wonderful years.
Gretter was a lifelong member of First Presbyterian Church, having served in many capacities in earlier years. She and John were married in the church and she became church Secretary to Dr. William Crowe, Jr. soon after her marriage.
She was a member of the Social Service League of Wilmington, later to become the Junior League. She served on boards of the New Hanover County Services for the Aging, the Lower Cape Fear Historical Society, the Cameron Art Museum, and was, for 15 years, a volunteer in the Good Shepherd Soup Kitchen.
In her youth, Gretter loved horseback riding, golf and tennis. She enjoyed her many trips with John as his firm consulted in and built airports in the U.S., Iceland, and many African countries: Liberia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. They traveled in Europe during the 80s and 90s, having spent many weeks in the U.K. and in Oberursel, Germany. However, one of Gretter’s greatest passions was her love for animals. With her huge heart and caring soul, she often rescued stray dogs and constantly advocated for animals everywhere.
She is survived by four children: John T. (Jay) Talbert, III and wife Cindy of Wilmington; Margaret (Meg) Gretter Talbert Davenport also of Wilmington; James Duffy Talbert and wife Karen of Columbia, S.C.; and Frances Catherine Talbert Snead and husband Ben of New Bern.
In addition, she is survived by eleven grandchildren: Margaret Harris Talbert, John Tillman (J.T.) Talbert IV, Dr. Carolyn Talbert Bryan (Aaron), Dr. Charlotte Rhodes Talbert Kish (Dan), John Duffy Davenport (Sara), William Simmons Davenport, Madeline Gretter Talbert Barbian (Brian), Virginia Rhett Talbert, John Tillman Snead, Elizabeth Snead Nicholson (Henry), and Charlotte Morgan Snead.
Her five great grandchildren are Margaret Gretter Barbian, Maxwell Knight Barbian, Callie Copeland Bryan, Madison Brooke Bryan and Miller Elizabeth Nicholson. She is also survived by six nephews, one niece and several great nephews and nieces. Gretter’s four grandsons all achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.
The family is forever grateful for the steady and loving care of the team of caregivers who kept her in good hands and who she kept smiling until the end, in her fun-loving, witty style.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the charity of your choice or to New Hanover Humane Society (2405 N. 23rd Street, Wilmington, NC 28401) or Coastal Animal Rescue Effort (1808 Sir Tyler Drive, Wilmington, NC 28405).
