Marie Bethea Scully, widow of William John Scully, passed away on May 4, 2012 in Tampa, Florida with her daughter Sallie at her side. Marie grew up in Dillon, SC where she was born on September 11, 1920. She graduated from Dillon High School and Winthrop University. After Winthrop, she worked for Congressman John L. McMillan in Washington. She lived in a number of towns and cities across the eastern US, happily following her husband’s employment. She returned to Dillon in 1970 after her husband’s death and taught art at Dillon High School and East Elementary. Marie carried on a family tradition of community and church service for many years participating and volunteering wherever she made her home, but especially in her beloved Dillon. She was truly a proud South Carolinian.
Marie was the last living grandchild of Thad and Georgie Bethea. Thad Bethea was Dillon’s third mayor. She was the daughter of James Earle Bethea, Sr. and Marie Gibson Bethea.
Marie was also preceded in death by her brother, James Earle (Red) Bethea, Jr. and his wife Elizabeth Manning Bethea. She is survived by her daughter Sallie Scully Williams, her son-in-law Tony Williams, and grandson Nicholas Andrew Williams, all of Tampa. She is also survived by her nieces, Fleming Bethea Markel, Marie Bethea Edmonds, Georgia Bethea Rushton, all of Greenville; and by nephews James Earle Bethea, III of Newberry and Frank Gibson Bethea of Saluda.
Please welcome Marie home with a visitation Friday, May 11th from 6-8 pm, at Cooper Funeral Home. The funeral service will be at Main Street United Methodist Church on Saturday, May 12th at 2 pm, followed by a graveside service at Dothan Methodist Church Cemetery.
