Florence Radcliffe Clauss Chapman

Mrs. Chapman, 92 of The Cypress of Charlotte, died peacefully on December 15, 2011 at the Stewart Health Center.
Mrs. Chapman was born on January 19, 1919 and raised in Charleston SC, where she was known as "Flossie", the daughter of Susan Shaw and Rudolph William Clauss. She attended Memminger High School, Winthrop College and graduated from the College of Charleston / MUSC with a degree in medical technology. After graduation she met her husband Charles Grainger Chapman, MD ("Buddy"), who was a resident physician at St. Francis Hospital in Charleston. Shortly after their marriage on March 1, 1941, Dr. Chapman was deployed with the Army Medical Corps leaving them apart for their first four wedding anniversaries. During this time Mrs. Chapman worked as a medical technologist in Charleston. After World War II they lived in Walterboro SC where their four daughters were born. Dr. Chapman continued his medical studies in Boston MA before the family moved to Charlotte in 1957, and the addition of two sons completed their large family.
After her youngest child left for college, Mrs. Chapman obtained her teaching certificate and joined the Charlotte Country Day Upper School Science Department faculty. She relished her teaching career until she retired at age 85.
Mrs. Chapman was a sports enthusiast all her life. As a young girl, she swam and dived competitively and played high school basketball. She enjoyed playing bridge, golf and tennis. While at Country Day, Mrs. Chapman ("Chappie") enjoyed all ball games and serving as assistant coach of the swim team. After moving to the Cypress, she was a fierce competitor in the weekly croquet matches.
Mrs. Chapman was blessed with a zest for life. She and her husband enjoyed numerous trips to Europe and Korea, though she never lost her love for Charleston and the Lowcountry. Annual vacations at Edisto Beach have become a family tradition that none of the children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren ever want to miss. Highlights of her travels included trips to the EarthWatch program in St. Croix and a mission trip to Kenya in her late seventies.
Mrs. Chapman served as an Elder, a Deacon, chair of the Wedding Committee, a Stephen Minister and an Honorary Life member of Presbyterian Women at Sardis Presbyterian Church.
Mrs. Chapman was a member of Carmel Country Club, the Time and Tide Book Club, the Olde Stonehaven Garden Club, Mecklenburg Medical Auxiliary, South Carolina Historical Society, the Huguenot Society of South Carolina, and the Latta Place Board of Directors.
Mrs. Chapman is survived by her children, Suzanne Mecum and husband, Shade of Charlotte and their children Sally Higgins of Charlotte, Charlie Higgins of New York NY, the Rev. Katherine Higgins of Atlanta GA, Matthew Mecum of Brookshire TX and Michael Mecum of Houston TX; Cynthia Nicks and husband, Ed of Columbia SC and their children Louis Nicks and Melissa Lindsay of Columbia SC; Celia McCarty and husband David of Atlanta GA and their children Dr. Cynthia Newberry of Salt Lake City UT, Dr. Judy Gayne of Seattle WA, David McCarty, Jr. of New York NY, Bobby McCarty of Chicago IL, and Ben McCarty of Atlanta GA; Elaine Fairey and husband Gaston of Columbia SC and their children Elise Powell of Louisville KY, Gaston Fairey, Jr. and Chapman Fairey of Columbia SC, and Jim Fairey of Greenville SC; Charles Chapman of Columbia SC; and Dr. Will Chapman and wife Marty of St. Louis MO and their children William Chapman of Washington DC, Robert and Maggie Chapman of St. Louis MO. Mrs. Chapman is also survived by 14 great-grandchildren. Mrs. Chapman was preceded in death by her husband, her brother William Rudolph Clauss Jr. and her sister Martha Percival Clauss.
The family thanks Mrs. Chapman's caregivers at the Cypress of Charlotte for their loving care these last years. They are especially grateful for Dyshon Cagle's willingness to join the entire Chapman family for a week at Edisto Beach each of the past four summers.
Visitation will be held at the Cypress of Charlotte on Monday, December 19 from 10:30 a.m. until 12:00. A service to celebrate Mrs. Chapman's life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, December 19 at Sardis Presbyterian Church with a reception following in the Fellowship Hall. A private burial will be held at Magnolia Cemetery in Charleston, SC.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Sardis Presbyterian Church, 6100 Sardis Road, Charlotte NC 28211 or Charlotte Country Day School, the Florence Chapman Fund, 1440 Carmel Road, Charlotte NC. J Henry Stuhr, Inc. of Charleston SC is assisting the family.