Mary Gervais Hills

Mary Hart Gervais Hills, widow of Marshall Whilden Hills, of Johns Island, S.C. entered into eternal rest on August 7, 2022.

She was born in Charleston, S.C. on September 13, 1926, the daughter of Mary Alice Hart and John Lewis Gervais. She was a graduate of Crafts School, Charleston, St. Johns High School, Johns Island, and the College of Charleston. After graduation she taught at St. Paul's High School, Hollywood, S.C., for three years before leaving the Lowcountry to teach Latin at St. Margaret's Episcopal School, Tappahannock, Va. for two years. 

She married Marshall Whilden Hills in 1952 and returned to Johns Island, rearing five children, helping her husband as he established his business, and teaching Latin and Spanish at Ashley Hall School in Charleston. She served as Secretary Treasurer of Three Oaks Contractors, Inc. for over 50 years.

She was a member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority, the Carolina Assembly, the Huguenot Society, First Families of South Carolina, Daughters of American Colonists, and The South Carolina Historical Society.

An Elder of Johns Island Presbyterian Church, she served also as Clerk of Session for many years.

She is survived by her daughter Mary Alice Meise and four sons Marshall Whilden Hills, Jr. and wife, Alice, John Lewis Gervais Hills and wife, Sharon, James Clark Hills and wife, Linda, and John Lofton Hills and wife, Lynn, 12 grandchildren, Emily Hills Bengal and husband Lucas, Janie Taber Hills Stelling and husband, Scott, Mary Whilden Hills Behrhorst and husband Bradley, Marshall Whilden Hills, III and wife Lauren, Sarah Hills Johnson and husband, Michael, John Lewis Gervais, Jr. and wife Elizabeth, Henry Edward Meise and wife Elle, Mary Alice Hart Meise, Victoria Elizabeth Hills, Caroline Gallagher Hills, step granddaughter Eliza Hutto Cantwell and husband, Josh, step grandson Thomas Asbury Hutto and wife, Lindsay, and 12 great grandchildren , Allysa Marie Hart Davis, Colby Lisle Neal, Scarlett Elizabeth Johnson, Bowers Hills Cantwell, Taber Magill Stelling, George Arthur Ziozias Johnson IV, Annie Hall Gaillard Stelling, Isabel June Bengal, Ellis Humphrey Cantwell, John Baker Hutto, Lewis Gardner Connor and Caroline Asbury Hutto.

She was predeceased by granddaughter, Elizabeth Seabrook Hills, sister, Julia Emma Gervais Puckette, brother, John Lewis Gervais, Jr., sister-in-law, Diddie Sams Gervais and sister-in-law, Julia Leland Gervais, brother-in-law, Dr. Stephen Elliott Puckette. She is also survived by brother Philip Emanuel Gervais, sister-in-law Catherine Puckette and many loving nieces and nephews.

The family would like to especially thank Kim Lowe and the staff at Ashley Gardens for their devotion to Mary.

Family and friends are invited to attend her funeral service on Saturday, August 13, 2022, 11:00am at Johns Island Presbyterian Church with burial to follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends at Three Oaks, 3761 Angel Oak Road, Johns Island, following the burial.

Memorials may be sent to the Endowment Fund of Johns Island Presbyterian Church, 2550 Bohicket Road, John's Island, S.C. 29455 or to the charity of one's choice.