Irma Minges Lea

Irma Minges Lea, 99, of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, widow of James McIntosh Lea, Jr. died Friday, April 24, 2015. Her Funeral Service will be held Tuesday, April 28, 2015, in the Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church, 302 Hibben Street at 11:00 am, followed by a reception in the fellowship hall. A private burial will be held in Magnolia Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Monday, in the J. HENRY STUHR, INC., MOUNT PLEASANT CHAPEL from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm.

Irma was born October 4, 1915 in Charleston, South Carolina, daughter of the late Philip S. Minges and Rose Harley Minges. She was a 1934 graduate of Memminger High School and earned a Business Degree from Rice Business College.

The Lea family moved to Mount Pleasant in 1949 where they relocated their family furniture business from King Street. Irma managed the office full-time while also rearing their two children. She enjoyed gardening, playing bridge, needlepoint, reading and crocheting. She was a member of Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church for 66 years and was very active with the church's Senior Citizens for many years. She was a member of the Mount Pleasant Garden Club and served as president for two years. One of Irma's greatest accomplishments was to initiate the Junior League Speech School, which later became one of Charleston's and Atlanta's finest speech schools.

Irma is survived by her daughter, Rose Vivian Lea of Mount Pleasant, SC; her son, James "Jim" M. Lea, III of Mount Pleasant, SC; her brother, Philip S. Minges, Jr and his wife Patty Bayman Minges; and six nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to Thornwell Home for Children, 302 South Broad Street, Clinton, SC 29325 or Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church Hope House, 302 Hibben Street, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464.