TARBORO — PINETOPS — An hour before the memorial service Sunday afternoon for Ann Cobb, the sanctuary of Pinetops Presbyterian Church was full.

Not long after that, another church building's chairs were full.

It was testimony to what the Rev. Jim McKinnon called "the quintessential Christian lady who lived life to the fullest."

Cobb, 81, passed away Thursday at Pitt County Memorial Hospital in Greenville surrounded by family. She never regained consciousness following stomach surgery.

The wife of Pinetops Mayor Vines Cobb, she was active in her community and church.

"If not for Ann I'm not sure there would be an (Edgecombe County Cultural) Arts Council today," said Jessie Smoot, who was Cobb's right hand in 2004-06 during difficult times when then Arts Council Director Jai Jordan was relieved of his duties.

Somehow, Cobb was able to keep the council together, hire a new director and move forward.

"She never lost that smile," Smoot said. "She never raised her voice, but she kept at the same point until everyone came around to her way of thinking."

Cobb also was instrumental in bringing the North Carolina Symphony to Tarboro for concerts and for day-long educational concerts for schoolchildren. She was a founding member of the Edgecombe County Chapter of the N.C. Symphony.

"Ann was a kind, devoted volunteers and patron of the N.C. Symphony and always championed the cause of music education for children in Edgecombe County," said Rob Maddrey, the symphony's director of statewide development. "She was an invaluable member of the chapter. She will be sorely missed in our symphony family."

For years, Cobb sold more tickets for the annual Holiday Pops concert than any other of the chapter's 30-something members.

She was recognized by the mayor for her "dedicated services" during the Holiday Pops concert in 2008  and received a standing ovation.

"She was very devoted to the symphony and for all it offered to everyone in the community," said Catherine Powers Moseley, chapter secretary. "She was  strong supporter of the symphony concert for school children, having been a music teacher in the schools  for many years."

Cobb taught public school music for more than 40 year and was cultural arts director in both Wilson and Edgecombe counties. She taught private voice lessons. Later in her career she taught Spanish and after retirement, she worked part time teaching English as a second language.

"She got me into the school system" said Becky Johnson, music teacher at Carver Elementary School. "She was like a second mother to me. I felt like I could go to her about anything. We were really good friends.

"We worked together in the schools, the community chorus, anything to do with music."

Cobb initiated Edgecombe County Public Schools annual week-long Artsplosion event for fine arts students and the vocal music component, Choralfest is named in her honor, said Diane LeFiles, who worked with Cobb for many years in the school system and through the Arts Council and N.C. Symphony,

"She was an inspiring and gracious woman who cared deeply about her family and this community." LeFiles said. "She was passionate  supporter of the fine arts, particularly for  public school students. I am heartbroken."

 Anderson Ferrell remembers  Cobb as his choral director in junior high school.

"So much of what I learned from her was useful to me later in life in the theater," he said. "She was a wonderful  woman – always cheerful and so instrumental in bringing music into so many people's lives."

Added Nina Rountree: It's hard to believe. I always thought she was indestructible. She always seemed to have a fresh battery. It's a sad day."

During the memorial service, Rev. McKinnon said Cobb served in every leadership position in her church, many years as choir director.

"When the doors were open" he said, "she was here."

Cobb graduated from Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Ga.,  and served as director of Christian education at Eastminster Presbyterian Church in Columbia, S.C., Florence, S.C., First Presbyterian Church, Second Presbyterian Church in Charleston, S.C., and First Presbyterian Church in Wilson.

McKinnon called Cobb "a genteel lady of charm and dignity ...  with a host of friends  ... due to her thoughtfulness and kind generosity and consistent encouragement."

"She stayed in touch," he said, "and wrote countless notes, congratulating people and to encourage,"

She is survived by her husband, J. Vines Cobb, Jr., son Raymond Vines Cobb and wife Martha of Pinetops, daughters Ann Cobb Warren and husband Carl of Pinetops, Alice Cobb Sherrod and husband David of Dunn and Sylvia Ruth Cobb of Pinetops; six grandchildren, Jonathan Charles Cobb and wife Ashley, Ann Sholar Warren, Katheryn Cobb Warren, Robert Justin Warren, Meredith Cobb Sherrod, Christopher David Sherrod; and her niece Trannie Adams Smith and husband Stephen of Waverly Hall, Ga.