Mary Sue Tillinghast Newton, 87, of Dillon, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on Monday Nov. 24, 2014. Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. on Nov. 28 at Latta Presbyterian Church. Visitation was from 1:00 – 2:00, just prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Latta Presbyterian Church at 110 North Richardson St., Latta, S.C. 29565 or to Hospice Care of South Carolina—Dillon County at 206 E. Roosevelt Street, Dillon, S.C. 29536.
Mary Sue was a talented teacher and musician, dedicated member of her church, devoted wife and mother, and lifelong follower of Christ. She was a member of Latta Presbyterian Church, where she loved seeing her friends, singing in the choir, and teaching Sunday school. She was a math and Latin teacher for 31 years, most of them in Dillon County junior high and high schools. Her students remember her as a no-nonsense teacher who was caring, fair, and committed to helping them learn. Mary Sue graduated with a degree in math and a minor in voice from Flora MacDonald College in 1946, and earned her Master’s degree at UNC Chapel Hill.
Those who knew Mary Sue will remember her for her intelligence, her youthful energy, her feisty personality, her beautiful soprano singing voice, her sense of duty and perseverance, and the love she had for her family, friends, and God. She had many hobbies and passions, including playing Tuesday afternoon bridge with her friends, singing, playing piano, gardening, watching Jeopardy, studying the Bible in intense preparation for teaching Sunday school, and doing The New York Times crossword puzzle. Over the years, she enjoyed being a member of many clubs in Dillon, including the Garden Club and the Etudier Club.
Mary Sue is survived by her husband of 26 years, Perry B. Newton, Jr.; her three children, Jamey Price of Lugoff, Jim Moody (Jennifer) of Cassatt, and Mary Gerald Foster (Jim) of Fort Mill; her step-sisters Jeannie Wilson of Tennessee and Betsy Haisten of Asheville, NC. She also is survived by 11 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
Mary Sue was born in Spartanburg on Oct. 26, 1927, to the late Burrett Stinson Tillinghast and the late Pauline Johnson. She also was preceded in death by her brother, B. S. “Red” Tillinghast.
The family thanks Dr. Michael Brown, Mary Sue’s primary physician, for his kind and compassionate care that gave her several more years of quality life in spite of her health condition. Together with their children, many wonderful caregivers helped Mary Sue and her husband, Perry, live independently in their home until her death. The family extends its gratitude and love to those special souls from Hospice of South Carolina, especially Bobbie Lee and Irene Thompkins who became family during this time, to Annie Alford and others for private nursing care, Joyce Thompson, and Cornelius “Bunny” Johnson. The family also is grateful for the spiritual and moral support provided to Mary Sue and the entire family by Pastor Buddy Bach and Hospice Chaplain Kristal McKay.
Online condolences may be left at www.kannadayfuneralhome.com.
