Sarah (Sally) Thrower Plair

Sarah (Sally) Thrower Plair changed worlds on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, at Shem Creek Health Center in Mt. Pleasant, SC after listening to her children read entries from family journals of years past. Sally was born in Barnwell SC on January 27, 1932, the daughter of the late Marion and Mary Thrower. She was predeceased by her husband of 61 years, James “Jim” Plair.

Sally grew up in downtown Charleston where she took great pride in being quite a “tomboy”. She loved talking about her fishing adventures in Colonial Lake. She also spent many years as a camper and then a counselor at Sky Valley in the mountains of NC. Sally graduated from Ashley Hall in 1949 and then attended Virginia Intermont Jr. College from 1949-1951. After that, Sally attended the Cincinnati College of Music where she received her Masters in Music in 1953. In 1976 she published her college thesis, “Something to Shout About, Reflections on the Gullah Spiritual”. And, of course, since husband Jim was a 1950 Citadel grad, she was most proud of her graduating in 1980 from The Citadel night school with her degree in General Counseling. 

Sally’s life revolved around her love of music. She was quite proficient on the piano and guitar and dabbled in other instruments such as the banjo, harmonica, and many percussion instruments. Sally taught many Mt. Pleasant children piano (including her 3 children) from her home studio in Hobcaw from 1964-1980. She also taught guitar through Wando High School’s Adult Ed Program from 1972-1985. She was also Music Director at East Cooper Private School from 1967-1971, where many learned to play the magic flutophone.

Her love of music also spread to her strong faith in God. She was involved in the music ministry at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Mt. Pleasant where she was the Jr. Choir Director from 1961-1972. We have been told by many that Mrs. Plair “did not play around” and would not tolerate any nonsense during choir practices. She participated in the Adult Choir for many years as well. In 1977, to the chagrin of her children, she started and led the 1st guitar family church services which continued and grew well past when she left the Mt. Pleasant area. 

Sally was always looking to stay educated and busy. She took various courses over the years and was active with the Charleston Chapter of the National Kidney Foundation, was a member of Children at Risk, Guardian ad Litem, and a volunteer with People Against Rape. 

In 1988, Sally and Jim moved full-time to where Sally loved to be, the mountains. They settled on See Off Mountain in Brevard, NC where they spent many wonderful years and became involved in many activities in the area. Sally attended Jim’s Rotary Club where she would lead the group in sing along’s. She would also go to various hospitals and retirement homes in the Brevard area to play piano and sing for patients and residents. One of her finest achievements was the birth of Brevard’s community band that became quite popular. She was on the board for the band and would often play percussion to Jim’s trombone.

Probably the most important aspect of Sally and Jim’s life was their love and devotion to each other. For as long as their children can remember, Sally and Jim began each day in a “Quiet Time” where they read a devotion and a Bible reading aloud to each other and prayed for their children, family members and friends. They then ended with the same prayer that Sally had learned at her days at Sky Valley Camp that began, “O Lord in the quiet of this morning hour.” Their marriage was a study in compromise - Sally agreed to go with Jim to many Citadel football games, and Jim would agree to attend concerts and recitals and even an occasional opera. They worked together as Superintendents of St. Andrews Church Sunday School, mediated together in the Brevard courts, and it was a very rare occasion to see Sally without Jim or vice versa. 

Sally is survived by two daughters, Terri Plair Strauss (Richard) of Columbia, SC and Lisa Plair Yeager (Greg) of Murrells Inlet, SC; and one son, James “Jimmy” B. Plair, Jr. (Kathy) of Mt. Pleasant, SC. Sally is also survived by 6 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. She was pre-deceased by her brother Jack Thrower. In addition Sally and Jim raised many family dogs and their last, Maisie, kept Sally company after Jim’s death. 

Sally’s children would like to thank the many caregivers from Shem Creek Health Center who watched over her for over 2 years, in particular, Erica, My, Seebrina, Stephanie, Christina, Karen, and Janiel. There were also several independent caregivers whom Sally loved that need special recognition - Cammey, Dian, Jammey, and “Cat”. Finally, Caris Hospice took exceptional care of Sally and gave her children guidance and support for over a year. 

A memorial service will be held at J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., Mt. Pleasant Chapel, 1494 Mathis Ferry Road, Mt. Pleasant, SC, on Saturday, July 13 at 11:00 am. Interment to follow the service at Mt. Pleasant Memorial Gardens. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to East Cooper Meals on Wheels, Inc., Post Office Box 583, Mt. Pleasant, SC, 29465 or Pet Helpers, 1447 Folly Rd, Charleston, SC 29412.