Notra Weaver McNatt

Notra Weaver McNatt lived a life defined by quiet generosity and care for others. A seamstress since childhood on her family’s small farm in Ashe County, North Carolina, she devoted countless hours to sewing gowns and blankets for newborns who did not survive, as well as making plus-size dresses for women in need. She welcomed new neighbors to her Charlotte community with homemade brownies and remained a steadfast presence at Sharon Presbyterian Church for 42 years, worshiping each Sunday and serving faithfully throughout the week.

Born the third of four children to Harrison and Ethel Weaver, Notra graduated from Lansing High School before moving to Greensboro, where she worked for Jefferson Standard Life Insurance Company. In 1959 she married Ralph McNatt, a preacher’s son from High Point. The couple settled in Charlotte in 1983 and shared 66 years together. For many of those years she sewed clothing for clients of Crisis Assistance Ministry, and for three decades she created tiny handmade garments for Caleb Ministries to comfort families who had lost a child at birth or shortly after.

Notra passed away at the age of 90 following a brief illness. She is survived by her husband, Ralph McNatt of Charlotte; daughters Angela Herman (John) of Pineville, North Carolina, and Linda Epler (Daniel) of Clover, South Carolina; grandchildren Sarah Naringrekar (Vikrant) of Tega Cay, South Carolina, Benjamin Herman of Asheville, North Carolina, and Emily and Elijah Epler of Clover; great-grandchildren Maeve and Ronan Naringrekar of Tega Cay; sister Carole Van Hoy (Steve) of Mooresville, North Carolina; and several nieces and nephews.