Ethel Trenholm Nepveux

Ethel Trenholm-Seabrook Nepveux, 94, of Charleston, South Carolina, widow of Dr. Felix Joseph Nepveux III, entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, March 21, 2017. Ethel was born November 11, 1922, in Georgetown, South Carolina, daughter of the late Alfred Glover Trenholm, Jr and Ethel Moore Lofton Trenholm. She is survived by her son, Felix Joseph Nepveux IV (Sissy) of Greenville, SC; her daughter, Susan Peiffer (Robert) of Daniel Island, SC; seven grandchildren: Muriel Elizabeth Nepveux Kosmas of Lexington, VA, Rallie Gilchrist Nepveux Snowden of Lexington VA, Dr. Felix Joseph Nepveux V of Boston, MA, Earle Rowland III (Lee) of Mt. Pleasant, SC, Anne Trenholm Rowland Gratz (Luke) of Richmond Hill, GA, Robert Wharton Peiffer (Dori) of Montclair, NJ, and Gary John Peiffer (Kathe) of Vienna, VA; and fifteen great-grandchildren: Hannah Muriel Kosmas, Dawson McDonald Kosmas, Malcolm Paul Kosmas, David Barrett Kosmas, Sierra Porter Snowden, Kiley Bell Rowland, Margaret Seabrook Rowland, Lucas Gratz, Jr., Peyton Bryce Gratz, Jackson Gerald Gratz, Robert Andras Peiffer, Matthew Kristof Peiffer, Adam Benjamin Peiffer, Emma Irene Peiffer, and Cory Evan Peiffer. Born Ethel Trenholm, she lost her mother when she was an infant. She was raised near the Angel Oak on Johns Island by her aunt and uncle, Gertrude and Julius Seabrook, and took their name. Ethel attended Winthrop and graduated from the College of Charleston. She married Felix Joseph Nepveux III who was also attending the College of Charleston, and together they raised a family in Charleston. Ethel especially enjoyed spending her summers with her children and husband on Goat Island, even before there was electricity on the island. She always said that she was a country girl, and her husband was a city boy.Ethel was a teacher, historian, and writer. She earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in history from the College of Charleston and a Master of Arts in teaching with a history major from The Citadel Graduate School. Noting that there were no Spanish teachers in the Johns Island schools, Ethel taught herself Spanish and began teaching.Ethel always had an avid interest in history, especially family history. She wrote three books about her ancestors. In 1997, the South Carolina Historical Society published her article The Life and Death of the Pretty Little Village of Legareville in its Carologue. Ethel took great pride in her extensive collection of historical books and loved to discuss genealogy with everyone she met. She was a member of the South Carolina Genealogy Society, in which she served as Recording Secretary. By popular acclaim, she was named Historian for the Goat Island Homeowners Association. She was also a member of the Society of First Families of South Carolina 1670-1700, and the Charleston Dental Wives Auxiliary.Ethel attended and taught Sunday School at Johns Island Presbyterian Church and the Second Presbyterian Church, Charleston. Her funeral service will be held Saturday, April 1, 2017, at the Johns Island Presbyterian Church at 11:00 a.m. , followed by interment in the churchyard. A reception will immediately follow in the church's fellowship hall. The family will receive friends on Friday, March 31, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. in the J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., Downtown Chapel.In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Charleston Animal Society, 2455 Remount Rd., N. Charleston, SC, 29406, or the Johns Island Presbyterian Church, 2550 Bohicket Rd, Johns Island, SC 29455.A memorial message may be sent to the family by visiting www.jhenrystuhr.com.