Lelia Oates "Ootsie" Darby

Lelia Oates "Ootsie" Darby, 93, of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, wife of the late Luther O. "Bud" Darby entered into eternal rest Monday, May 25, 2020. A private graveside service will be held in Mount Pleasant Memorial Gardens, 1308 Mathis Ferry Road at a later date. Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc. Mount Pleasant Chapel.

Ootsie was born March 27, 1927 in York County, South Carolina, daughter of the late Jake Oates and the late Isabel Jackson Oates. She was a graduate of Erskine College and received her Master's degree from The Citadel. Her teaching career began in Winnsboro, South Carolina where she met her future husband. In 1949, Ootsie became Mrs. L.O. Darby. The couple moved to Charleston where "Bud" went to the Citadel as a veteran and majored in engineering while Ootsie worked as a school secretary for Bethel Methodist Church. Her first teaching job was in Mount Pleasant under Mamie P. Whitesides. She taught in Fairfax and Brunson, South Carolina when her husband was transferred there. Soon however the returned to Mount Pleasant to stay. Mrs. L.O. "Ootsie" Darby was a favorite teacher you would remember. She was an inspiration for the thousands of young people fortunate enough to be in her classroom during the 36 years she devoted to her profession. Mrs. L.O. Darby was the Girl Scout Neighborhood Chairman for the Savannah River Girl Scout Council. Mrs. Darby was selected by the Fort Sumter Business and Professional Women's Club as East Cooper Teacher of the year in 1967. Teaching was not the only field in which "Ootsie" Darby has been Successful. She co-authored a series of supplementary readers with Mrs. M. L. Causey, called "South Carolina Indians and was followed by "A Guide Book to South Carolina". If teaching, writing, tutoring, working in the Sunday School of Hibben United Methodist Church and serving on the executive board of Mamie Whiteside PTA were not enough to keep her busy, Ootsie and her husband Bud Darby were the proud parents of a son, Jack. She was a beloved teacher by students and parents. Lelia "Ootsie" Darby became the 95th inductee to the Charleston Federation of Women's Club Hall of Fame. She taught school for over 36 years. She was an active member of the Bayview Acres Civic Club for over 40 years and Delta Kappa Gamma teacher's Sorority.. She was a faithful member of Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church and involved in many senior activities. Ootsie retired as a teacher after 36 years from James B. Edwards Elementary School. She was considered an "Educator Extraordinaire".

She is survived by son, John "Jack" Jackson Darby and her daughter-in-law, Amy, of Loganville, GA and grandson, Joshua Pendley Darby of Atlanta, GA. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Monroe Jackson Oates and Grady Rembert Oates.

Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to James B. Edwards Elementary School, 855 Von Kolnitz Road, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 or Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church, 302 Hibben Street, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464.

To view the funeral service please visit the following: https://www.tributeslides.com/tributes/show/GX6Z8GCBM34878QC