Barbara Cheryl Mead

Barbara "Binky" Cheryl Mead, 77, of Charleston, SC went to be with the Lord on Sunday, October 10, 2021. Family and Friends are invited to attend her funeral service Sunday, October 17, 2021 in Lightsey Chapel at Charleston Southern University, 9200 University Boulevard, at 3:00 p.m. with her colleague and friend, The Rev. Clark Carter, Dean of Students at Charleston Southern University presiding, alongside Pastor Marshall Blalock, Pastor of First Baptist and Dr. Dondi Costin, president of Charleston Southern University. Burial will be private in Magnolia Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be one hour prior in Lightsey Chapel at 2:00 p.m. In an effort to keep everyone safe and healthy, attendees will be required to wear masks and attempt reasonable physical distancing indoors at CSU. Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc. Downtown Chapel.

Binky was born in Colorado Springs, CO while her father served as an army pilot during WWII. She faithfully served Charleston Southern University for 55 years. Binky held degrees from Anderson University, Furman University and The Citadel. She was honored to join the CSU family when it was the Baptist College under its founder and first President, Dr. John Hamrick. Binky joyfully and selflessly served Charleston Southern in areas of admission, recruitment, enrollment and student services. Most recently, Binky served as the Associate Dean of Students, International Services Director and Life Skills Coordinator for CSU. She was a licensed professional counselor and she considered it an honor to be able to walk along with students and staff during some of their toughest seasons of life. Binky has been a source of comfort and counsel for countless students through the years. She was always there to guide, mentor and love those around her. Binky was a great encourager. To say she loved her students is a great understatement and her students brought her tremendous joy throughout her life.

Binky loved her family and loved her family well. She was a loving daughter, devoted sister and caring aunt. Binky adored her parents. She cherished her mother and loved the wisdom of her father. Binky loved gardening and taking trips with her mama. The most beautiful roses came from their garden, and she enjoyed gifting those roses to those around her. Giving to others always brought Binky a great sense of delight. Great amounts of thought and love were always taken to make sure that she picked the right "surcees" to gift to family and friends. When she saw a need, without hesitateion she would meet that need with enormous amounts of love and kindness. In true southern fashion, Binky was a wonderful hostess. The fellowship of friends and family over dinners and luncheons were a great source of joy for her and a true blessing for those that shared a meal at her table.

Binky is survived by her sister, Carol Mead Koopman (William) of Charleston, SC; brother, Robert "Bobby" Markley Mead, Sr. of Moncks Corner; sister-in-law, Patricia Mead of Mt. Pleasant, SC; numerous nieces and nephews: Margaret "Margie" Jackson (Wayne), Candice Browder, P.O. Mead IV (Ashley), Barbara Koopman, Kimmie Durham (Jonathan) and Amber Cobb (Greg); great-nieces; great-nephews; and her God children. She is also survived by her extended family: Harriett Gadsden, Victoria Ravenel, Emily Parker, Jacqueline White and Cindy Clark.

Binky was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Percy Orian Mead, Jr. and Margaret Shirley Isaacs Mead; her brother Percy Orian (P.O.) Mead III; and her nephew, Robert "Bobby" Markley Mead, Jr.

The family would like to thank Clark and Sherri Carter for their enormous amount of love and comfort that was given to Binky and family. For the past few weeks Roper Hospital's staff provided the utmost care and compassion for Binky during her illness. Not only did the staff at Roper care for Binky, they also cared for her friends and family with the greatest amount of kindness.

Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to the Barbara C. Mead Scholarship Fund at Charleston Southern University, 9200 University Boulevard, Charleston, SC 29406.