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I hope that I have her with the correct parent and brother. jkh Her childhood was spent on a family plantation in Barwell County, South Carolina. at death- she had granddaughters and grandsons-who are their parents? jkh
Date Published: October 6, 2009
ETHEL M. OVERTON LEA
Ethel McDuffie Overton Lea died peacefully Oct. 4, 2009. Graveside services will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Lancaster Memorial Park, Lancaster, with the Rev. Steve Patterson officiating.
Born Jan. 19, 1917, she was a daughter of the late James C. and Ethel B. McDuffie. Her childhood was spent on a family plantation in Barnwell County. After moving to Bishopville, she graduated from Bishopville High School a year early and was class salutatorian. She then attended Columbia College and Winthrop College before graduating from Coker College. During World War II she managed her brother's furniture store in Lumberton, N.C., before moving to Lancaster. Mrs. Lea was a highly respected educator in the Lancaster County school system for many years, where she taught every grade level. She received her master's degree from Winthrop University while she was actively teaching. She was particularly proud of her A-level teacher certification that remained with her throughout her career as a teacher. After leaving public education, she became a successful real estate agent in Myrtle Beach for a number of years. An avid golfer, she was an active member of The Dunes Club, Myrtle Beach. She was well-known as a master bridge player, who could be regularly found playing in bridge games and tournaments around the state. She could always be counted on to host a few tables of bridge at her home or the Dunes Club and to be the competition for all to beat. Late in her life, she moved from Myrtle Beach to Columbia, where she resided for several years at Wildewood Downs. She eventually moved to Covenant Place in Sumter.
She is survived by her two sons, Dr. Jim Overton and his wife, Jaynie, of Columbia and Charles H. Overton Jr. of Sumter; two stepsons, Mebane Lea and his wife, Barbara, of Hendersonville, N.C., and Craig Lea and his wife, Jane, of Matthews, N.C.; a sister, Rubinelle McDuffie Friedman of Columbia; granddaughters, Kelly Overton of Brooklyn, N.Y., Lisa Overton of Seattle, Wash., and Dawn Lea Dougherty of Sarasota, Fla.; grandsons, Peyton Lea of Elon, N.C., Jameson Lea of Wilmington, N.C., Scott Lea of Orlando, Fla., and Brian Lea of Raleigh, N.C.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her daughter, Laura Ethel Overton; her first husband, Charles Henry Overton Sr.; and her second husband, Mebane Lea.
Memorials may be made to the South Carolina Alzheimer's Association, 4124 Clemson Blvd., Anderson, SC 29621.
The Lancaster Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
The family extends special thanks to the staff of Covenant Place for the care and kindness given to Mrs. Lea during the past several years; the staff of Senior Matters Consulting Inc; Home Instead of Columbia; Helping Angels of Sumter; and Dr. Eric Skidmore, Bart Buie and Hugh Martin.
Notes to the family may be made at www.lancasterfuneralhome.com. [2] |