Elizabeth Anne Bruce

Elizabeth Anne McAlister Bruce of Charleston, South Carolina, our beloved wife, mother, sister and daughter-in-law, passed into eternal peace on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 surrounded by her family after a courageous battle with breast cancer.  She was 53 years old.  Anne was a loving, witty and intensely loyal force of nature.  She loved deeply, cared fiercely, and in her passing set a remarkable example of strength and grace.

Anne was born on October 9, 1969 in Nashville, Tennessee, daughter of the late Thomas Bennett McAlister and Barbara Hill McAlister. She attended Franklin Road Academy (Nashville), the University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa) and graduated from Mary Baldwin College (Staunton, VA) with a degree in Biology and Business Administration. After graduation she worked as an environmental consultant in Washington, DC and then as an event planner with Capitol Catering (Alexandria, VA), Atlanta Arrangements, the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry and JMC Charleston, hosting elaborate events for clients such as The Coca-Cola Company, McKesson Corporation, Microsoft and Pfizer, along with countless weddings and parties.  

In 2011, Anne was one of the first local hires for The Boeing Company in Charleston where she and her Customer Relations teammates coordinated the 787 Dreamliner World Tour, numerous first flights and deliveries of 787 Dreamliners.  She also helped to facilitate Boeing’s participation in the annual Heritage Golf Tournament, air shows in London and Paris and many other events in Charleston, Seattle and around the globe. 

Anne was a wonderful wife and mother and she doted on her two boys, Mac and Bennett, whom she loved dearly and of whom she was immensely proud. Anne enjoyed planning and attending parties, traveling with her family and friends, reading, playing cards and backgammon, and dining on sushi and champagne. She never met a dog she did not want to keep, and she adopted many black labs and golden retrievers over the years including Bailey, Maddux, Watson, Kelsey, Flash, Rosie and Baxter.  Her beauty, grace, strength, humor and candor will be profoundly missed and fondly remembered by family and friends alike.

Anne is survived by her husband of 25 years, James Sharpe Bruce; and two sons: William McAlister Bruce and Wilson Bennett Bruce, all of Charleston, SC; sister, Stephanie Lynne Knight of Troy, TN; brother, Donald Bennett McAlister (Patti) of Warsaw, VA; in-laws, Elizabeth Millsap McKown (Bryan) of Wadmalaw Island and Chalmers Guy Bruce (Betsy Williams) of Brevard, NC; brother-in-law, Sumner Chalmers Williams (Nati) of Vienna, Austria; nephews and nieces: Christopher Thomas Knight (Maddy), Josh Wolf (Frances) and Crystal Garvey (Jonathan); and great-nieces: Adeline Rose Knight and Elsie Anne Knight.  Anne is also survived by aunt, Glenn Rose McFaddin (Butch); numerous cousins who were like siblings, and countless friends whom she treated like family.

The family wishes to convey their deep appreciation for the care and treatment provided by Dr. Brian Lingerfelt and Dr. George Keogh and the team at Charleston Oncology, Dr. Debasish Tripathy and the team at MD Anderson Cancer Center, and the doctors, nurses and staff of Roper Hospital, Roper St. Francis Cancer Center and Roper Hospice Cottage.

Family and friends are invited to attend Anne’s funeral service on Thursday, March 23, 2023 at 2:00pm at First (Scots) Presbyterian Church, 53 Meeting Street, Charleston.  A private service at the cemetery will follow.  Memorials may be made to Pet Helpers (https://pethelpers.org) or to the Charleston Animal Society (https://charlestonanimalsociety.org).