Marilyn Martin Tyler Winegar

On October 27, 2023, Marilyn, known by all that knew and loved her as “Tha MawMaw”, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family after a brief illness, she was 85. Marilyn was the biological mother of five children; however, she was also a surrogate to many more in her lifetime. She cared deeply for her family both biological and extended, always making sure they were all properly fed. 

Marilyn was born and raised in Galivants Ferry, South Carolina, where she was modestly educated while helping her father raise her siblings on the family farm after her mother passed away at a young age. Many of the skills she learned and later taught in life started right there. 

She met and married her first love, Marvin Tyler, and the two set off to Charleston to start a family. 

When MawMaw’s children were young, the phrase “stay at home mom” did not exist. MawMaw spent many years helping on the family farm and other business ventures with Marvin. Later she chose a fulfilling career and retired in retail. When her first love, Marvin, passed away at an early age, she found love once again. With Robert Winegar, whom she spent 37 years of adventures living in various cities. When Robert passed, she came back to her roots in Charleston to be near her children.

Throughout her life she developed a love of many things which included growing vegetables and cooking good, old-fashioned southern food. MawMaw had the greenest thumb you can imagine, and it was often said that if you gave her a little dirt and a piece of steel, she could make it grow. She never lived anywhere she wasn’t surrounded by flowers. MawMaw had a great sense of humor and often made you laugh with her southern sayings, family stories, and anecdotes. She also had a love for reading, sewing, puzzles, fishing, and of course cooking. She spent the last years of her life near her family sharing a life of love and adventure and was almost never seen without her sweet dog, “Muffie”.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, Harvey and Dorothy Byrd Martin; her husbands, Marvin Tyler, Sr. and Robert Winegar; son, Marvin Tyler, Jr.; brothers, Charles Martin, George Martin, and James Martin; and sisters, Joanne Milligan and Geneva Johnson. 

She is survived by her two daughters, Janice Barfield of Charleston, SC, and Sharon Campbell (Scott) of Dandridge, TN; two sons, Bruce Tyler (Mindy) of Cross, SC, and Alton Tyler of Charleston, SC; two brothers, Harvey Martin (Janiece) and George Martin both of Conway, SC; many grandchildren; and great-grandchildren; and of course, her four-legged companion, Muffie.

A graveside celebration of life will be held in the Bayboro Baptist Church Cemetery, 3901 Green Sea Road, Aynor, SC, on November 1, 2023, at 1:00 pm.

Her family would be honored to have you help us celebrate her life; however, at MawMaw’s request, please dress in casual attire. 

Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr Inc., Downtown Chapel.