Martha Ruberry DABBS^[1]

1940 - 2022  (82 years)

• Name	Martha Ruberry DABBS  [2, 3, 4]
  Birth	17 May 1940	Sumter, Sumter County, South Carolina   [1, 5]
  Gender	Female
  HIST	of Jekyll Island, Georgia of Sumter, South Carolina Women's Honor Roll adds 3 Sumter Volunteers Inc. announces the 2013 class of the Women's Honor Roll of Sumter County. In celebration of National Women's History Month, the organization will add Sumterites Martha Dabbs Greenway, Emily Bolger Mason and Lillie B. Moore Nelson to the roll for their outstanding contributions to their community. Jo Anne Morris, executive director of Sumter Volunteers, said the public is invited to a 3 p.m. induction ceremony and reception for the honorees on Friday, March 1, the first day of Women's History Month, at the Swan Lake Visitors Center. The national celebration of Women's History Month began modestly in 1977 as Women's History Week, an educational project aimed at schools in Sonoma County, Calif. By 1981, Congress had passed a resolution making National Women's History Week official. In 1987, national recognition of women's contributions to history had grown so much that Congress expanded the celebration to a month. The month has been observed in Sumter since 1991 under the leadership of the YWCA of the Upper Lowlands. In 1993, Sumter Volunteers established The Women's Honor Roll of Sumter County to recognize women who have made outstanding contributions to the area's culture and history. Initially, 20 women were honored posthumously and Lady Banksiae roses planted in their honor on the pergola in Volunteer Park, formerly located at the corner of North Magnolia and East Calhoun streets. Since the first observance, from 1994-2012, 73 additional women have been honored and a permanent rose planting installed on the east and west sides of the Sumter Civic Center on West Liberty Street. These serve as living monuments to all the honorees, Morris said. In addition, their names are listed on the Honor Roll of Outstanding Women of Sumter County which hangs in the foyer of Patriot Hall in the Sumter County Cultural Center on Haynsworth Street. Names are added to the list only during Women's History Month. In the year 2000, Sumter Volunteers combined the tradition with a Bicentennial Salute to Women of Sumter. For the first time, four outstanding women's organizations were added to the Honor Roll along with two famous women from Sumter's past, Natalie Delage Sumter (Mrs. Thomas Sumter Jr.) and Angelica Singleton Van Buren, President Martin Van Buren's daughter-in-law, who acted as White House hostess during his term, 1837-1841. The recognition service was held at the Sumter Opera House for that special salute that honored all 60 women and groups. Roses were planted in the Bland Garden of Swan Lake-Iris Gardens. The ceremony returned to the Sumter Civic Center in 1991 with roses planted on the west fence. With the addition of this year's honorees the honor roll will number 102, Morris said. For more information about Sumter Volunteers, Inc., the Women's Honor Roll of Sumter County or Friday afternoon's ceremony and reception, call Morris at (803) 775-7423. MARTHA DABBS GREENWAY If it was an arts event in the Sumter community from the late 1970s to 2008, Martha Dabbs Greenway, retired executive director of the Sumter County Cultural Commission, was probably involved. A seventh-generation South Carolinian and a Sumter native, she lives in the country farmhouse built by her grandfather. Greenway graduated from Edmunds High School and received a bachelor of arts degree from the University of South Carolina with a major in English literature and a minor in history. She was the first employee of the Cultural Commission and constantly worked toward the commission's prime focus to make the arts available to everyone. Working with appointed commissioners, educators and volunteers, she planned and executed Fall Fiesta of the Arts, an outdoor festival of the visual and performing arts, held each October for several years at Swan Lake-Iris Gardens. The festival highlighted local talent and introduced professional performers. In 1998, the name of the festival was changed to Fall for the Arts and moved to the Sumter County Cultural Center. This was also the beginning of the 10-year installation art project, Sumter Accessibility, one of the largest of its type in the Southeast, which featured some local artists and brought many others from around the state, the nation and the world. Installation art is placed in public places and is inspired by or specifically related to its site. Greenway worked on the project with Booth and Peggy Chilcutt, and Accessibility became known for its unusual art and unusual openings - Mermaids on the Half Shell, A Night of 100 Marilyns, Motown, and Elvis on Parade. The pieces of limestone sculpture on the grounds of the Cultural Center and the colorful totems on Manning Avenue are lasting pieces of the project. In the early 1980s Greenway participated in the Community Artist Residency Training - a program that placed professional artists (singers, instrumentalists, actors) in various places in the Sumter Community; e.g., industry, Mental Health Center, Shaw AFB, local colleges and schools. For years following the C.A.R.T. program, she worked with the local schools to book and schedule artists-in-residence to work within the school systems. As manager of the Sumter County Cultural Center for many years, Greenway's mission was to make all visitors - performers, reception guests, members of the audience, former students of the old high school - feel comfortable and "at home" with the facility and the arts. It was during her tenure as executive director that the Sumter County Cultural Commission won the 2004 Elizabeth O'Neill Verner Governor's Award, South Carolina's highest award for the arts. Co-founder of the Southern Sampler Artists Colony, she and Mary Brent Cantarutti, her friend since high school, organize annual workshops for visual artists, photographers and writers. The first two were held in the Dabbs Crossroads area and the next five, primarily for writers, in the Charleston area. Greenway is a member of the Sumter County Gallery of Art, the Sumter Little Theatre, The Sumter County Museum and the Sumter County Historical Society. "I read somewhere that one should tithe to what brings inspiration," she said, "and so I go to church and I support that; I also support the arts. They give a lot back to me. I have great spiritual connection with both." Greenway is a member of the Pilot Club of Sumter, The Forum, Sumter Art Association and Salem Black River Presbyterian Church. EMILY BOLGER MASON Emily Bolger Mason was born in Charleston on March 9, 1918, and moved to Sumter at the age of 4. She attended the Sumter public schools, then nurses' training for a brief time. In 1939, she married Charles Stewart Mason; they had two daughters, Carol Mason Mimms and Margaret Mason Gamble. Wherever she has lived, Mason has always been interested in art and flowers and has had a garden. She has been a nationally accredited flower show and landscape judge and has won many awards. In addition, her yard has been included on the local garden tour. Mason was instrumental in introducing the National Wildlife Habitat for Sumter, and she was responsible for organizing and forming the junior garden club. In 1950, she joined the Poinsett Garden Club, subsequently serving as president; she also was president of the Council of Garden Clubs of Sumter several times. A nationally accredited Master Gardener for many years, Mason judged flower shows throughout the state and gave many talks and demonstrations and introduced other women of Sumter County to the art of flower arranging. Mason is a charter member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church, and she and her husband Charles designed and planted the initial landscaping of the church yard. In addition, she designed arrangements for Aldersgate's altar for many years. Her expertise in gardening and landscaping led to her service on the committee for the beautification of entrances to cities and welcome centers. Mason has also been an avid bridge player for many years. LILLIE B. MOORE NELSON Lillie B. Moore Nelson was born in Sumter County on Aug. 15, 1909, to the late James Moore and Minnie Grooms Moore. She was a mother, grandmother and great grandmother, not just to her biological family, but to many others, as well, and was known to most as Mother Nelson. She received her early education at the historic Kendall Institute, operated by the Presbyterian Church. She enrolled in Scotia Seminary, now Barber Scotia College. In 1930, she was certified to teach. She taught at the Kendall Institute until it closed in 1932. She then served as a teacher and principal from 1932 to 1961 at the Goodwill Parochial School, until it merged with Eastern High School. She earned her bachelor of arts degree in elementary education from Morris College. She continued to shape and to mold the minds of hundreds of young people until she retired in 1972 after having 42 consecutive years of perfect attendance. For more than 75 years, Nelson was a faithful member of Goodwill Presbyterian Church (USA). She served in many capacities including as deacon, moderator of Presbyterian Women, Sunday school teacher, choir director, organist, and as an ardent supporter of the Goodwill Educational and Historical Society. In 1961, she was honored by the Board of National Missions of the United Presbyterian Church for 25 years of continuous service in the mission work of the board. In 1973, she was chosen to represent the church in Lebanon and in 1983, in Scotland. Nelson was also the recipient of the Presbyterian Women's Honorary Life Membership Award. In 1988, she served as the chairwoman of the first Kendall Institute School Reunion. She was a founding member of the Sumter Interdenominational Ministers' Wives Alliance; a life member of the NAACP; a member of the National Council of Negro Women; member of the One More Effort Federated Club, the Sumter County Education Association, the Santee Senior Citizens Club, Goodwill Senior Citizens Young at Heart Club; and numerous other service organizations. Nelson and her husband, the late Dr. Warren Julius Nelson Sr., former pastor of Goodwill Presbyterian Church (USA), had eight children. Nelson died Nov. 29, 2012, at the age of 103. Posted in Panorama on Sunday, February 24, 2013 MARTHA DABBS GREENWAY Posted Wednesday, October 26, 2022 6:00 am On Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022, Martha Dabbs Greenway was called home, leaving behind many lives she touched with her grace and compassion. Martha was born on May 17, 1940, in Sumter, to Guy McBride Dabbs and Wrenna Christena Hancock. She was a graduate of Edmunds High School and University of South Carolina with a major in English literature and a minor in history. Though she left the comfort of her familiar setting at various times in her life to pursue new opportunities and travel, her Southern roots always called her home. In 1977, Martha moved back to the beloved Crossroads to "Fern Park," the home she grew up in and built by her grandfather. Employed by Sumter County for 31 years, Martha was the Sumter County Cultural Center / Patriot Hall director and executive director of the Sumter County Cultural Commission. Her passion and commitment to the arts was displayed in her years of involvement with the Cultural Commission and as a member of the Camden Writers Club. She, along with her close friend since childhood, co-founded the Southern Sampler Artists Colony, which offered workshops for writers, artists and photographers both at The Crossroads and in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. These friends, with a love for the arts, wanted to create an opportunity and space for artists to thrive. Curious about the world and cultures, Martha brought art to life and life to art! She embraced diversity and showed compassion for all. She loved others well, especially her family, friends and furry feline companions. She was a devout member of Salem Black River Brick Church, serving on the sessions several times as well as church treasurer. She was also a member of the Pilot Club of Sumter and The Forum. Martha was preceded by her parents, Guy McBride Dabbs and Wrenna Christena Hancock; and her two brothers, Guy (Mac) McBride Dabbs Jr. and John Hancock Dabbs. She is survived by her nephews, Guy McBride Dabbs Ill (Pat) of Madison, Georgia, Brett Charles Dabbs (Melissa) of Myrtle Beach and John Hancock Dabbs Jr. of Charlotte, North Carolina; her two nieces, Lisa Dabbs Crouse (Whitney) of Alpharetta, Georgia, and Anita (Tina) Dabbs Smith (Mike) of League City, Texas; many cherished grand- and great-grandnephews and nieces; along with a circle of wonderful friends. Martha's celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday at Salem Brick River Presbyterian Church, led by Dr. C. Jarred Hammet. The family will receive friends after the service at the meeting house. Refreshments will be served. A celebration honoring Martha's contributions to the arts and community, locally, nationally and internationally, is planned for Saturday, Nov. 12, at Sumter County Cultural Center / Patriot Hall, Sumter. In lieu of flowers, memorial donation suggestions include Salem Black River Presbyterian Church sent to Elizabeth Bevan, 523 Clement Ave., Charlotte, NC 28104; Salem Black River Cemetery Fund directed to Nancy Wilson, 228 Haynsworth St., Sumter, SC 29104; Sumter Gallery of Art, P.O. Box 1316, Sumter, SC 29151; or Sumter Little Theatre, P.O. Box 1667, Sumter, SC 29151. Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements, (803) 775-7500.  [1, 2, 4, 6]
  Occupation	she retired as the former executive director of the Sumter County Cultural Commission on 29 Mar 2008, after 30 years on the job  [3]
  _UID	A5590721B54942F09716CE1718D6341C2638
  Death	7 Sep 2022	Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital, Sumter, Sumter County, South Carolina
  Burial	30 Oct 2022	a celebration of life was held at Salem Brick River Presbyterian Church   [1]
  	Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home & Crematorium, Sumter, South Carolina
  Person ID	I149731	Singleton and Related Families
  Last Modified	4 Nov 2022

  
  

  Father	Guy Warren McBride “McBride” DABBS, Sr.,   b. 1 Oct 1904   d. 13 Apr 1983 (Age 78 years)
  Mother	Wrenna Christine HANCOCK,   b. 24 May 1903, Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina d. 4 May 1978, at her home (Age 74 years)
  Marriage	19 Jan 1932  [5, 7]
  _UID	70588A7C8CB14375825000902C4433AD7585
  _UID	70588A7C8CB14375825000902C4433AD7585
  Family ID	F102375	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Living
  Family ID	F102379	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	17 May 2005

  
  

  Family 2	Mike
  _UID	5008F4F53E224CE48B68BF0DD6C52378C6EB
  _UID	5008F4F53E224CE48B68BF0DD6C52378C6EB
  Family ID	F102881	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	23 Mar 2026

  
  

• Sources

  [S30219] Martha Dabbs Greenway. [S5091] . [S10327] Thanks for the Memories. [S19295] Women’s Honor Roll adds 3. [S5094] page 22. [S5092] Guy M. Dabbs Jr. [S8] page 234.