Lowcountry Roots by Wevonneda Minis
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Nurse had passion for fishing, helping
Fishing was a lifelong passion for Mary Ellen Neal Harrelson. She learned the Lowcountry pastime from her father, Peter Jehue Neal, while growing up in Summerville. And she shared her love of fishing with her daughter, Ellen DePatie, one of her six children.
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MINIS COLUMN: Retired teacher, volunteer had open arms
When Maxine Smith's mother passed away, she looked for a female role model in her mother's generation to spend time with. She found such a person in Sarah Burgess Brown, a woman her mother had played bridge with. In Brown, Smith found someone who always would welcome her. Smith and others...
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MINIS COLUMN: Woman known for wise counsel
It was just after Hurricane Hugo, and the Sullivan's Island house Peggy Croom Bayliss lived in had been blown off its foundation. The owners of the lot that it sat on decided to sell it, but Bayliss was determined that her relationship with the place would continue.
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Mason and family man was loving, supportive
Peter Morfesis was a social man, always making friends. For him, getting to know strangers was about as natural as breathing. Morfesis formed bonds with untold numbers of people during his life, including those he met during 61 years as a Mason.
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MINIS COLUMN: Man known as mannerly, generous
Ralph Smith will be missed as much for his exceptionally good manners as for the exceptionally good vegetables he grew and shared, say those who knew him.
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MINIS COLUMN: Mentor leaves a void in Ladson
Ask Wannetta Pratt, worthy matron of the Eastern Star's Lily Chapter 134 in Ladson, about Mary Conyers Jefferson and you'll get an unequivocal response. Jefferson, a former worthy matron, was someone with characteristics that every leader should have.
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MINIS COLUMN: Mother known for generous spirit
The Rev. Anna Rebecca Williams, a resident of Lincolnville for more than 75 years, was just the kind of person the community needed. Williams died recently at 92, the last charter member of the Lincolnville Civic League.
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MINIS COLUMN: Shagger known for putting others at ease
He had a voice like Merle Haggard and a heart of gold. She remembers the day they met. It was in Park Circle. He was wearing his baseball uniform and drinking a Coke.
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MINIS COLUMN: Retired curator remembered for her grace
Frankie Webb loved 18th-century furnishings and houses, friends and family say. For Webb, who retired as curator of historic houses for the Charleston Museum, a great day was finding the right piece of china, silver or other object that could help to present a historic house in the most accurate light.
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MINIS COLUMN: Ex-concierge had passion for Charleston
Suzi Jackson was a woman with a great spirit, says Ginger Scully, programs and operations director for the Preservation Society of Charleston. She volunteered for the society and numerous other organizations after moving to Charleston from New England in the mid-1990s.
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Life filled with Gullah traditions
They say Albertha Coakley could prepare dishes so flavorful that those eating them felt certain she designed her meals to suit their tastes.
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MINIS COLUMN: Hard worker known for sense of humor
Helen Nick Angelos Butler, personal secretary to retired lawmaker Arthur Ravenel Jr., will be remembered for her sense of humor.
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MINIS COLUMN: Foster care a calling for house mother
In a job where many burn out before they settle in, Ann McClellan Gilliam was always right at home. For more than 20 years, the McClellanville resident had been a house mother at the Boys Farm of Newberry.
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MINIS COLUMN: Piggly Wiggly employee beat the odds
Leroy Mosely was a man who made it against the odds. His grandfather died while raising him in Summerville. Two years later, his mother was raising him in Union Heights, and she died. At 14, Mosely, second oldest of nine children, had experienced two significant losses.
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MINIS COLUMN: Disabilities specialist had giving spirit
Renee Carr was the type of sister many dream of having. But her sister, Wendy Carr, never had to dream. She cannot imagine having had a better sister if she tried. Her sister's loving spirit resulted in so many good things.
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Wevonneda Minis
Wevonneda Minis writes genealogy columns and lifestyle features. She has researched family history since 1993 in the United States, Republic of Guinea, England, Scotland and the Bahamas. Ms. Minis has completed the "Advanced Methodology and Evidence Analysis" course, Samford Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research, Birmingham, Ala., and the "American Genealogy" course, National Genealogical Society, Arlington, Va. She has lectured at the South Carolina Genealogical Society's Annual Workshop, is director of "Roots and Branches: An African American Genealogy Project" and teaches at the Family History Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In addition, Ms. Minis is a member of the National Genealogical Society, Federation of Genealogical Societies and South Carolina Genealogical Society. She is a graduate of Regis College, Weston, Mass. and formerly reported on federal environmental policy in Washington, D.C.Submit a Featured Obituary
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