Mary Elrod Ivester

Mary Elrod Ivester, 97, of Charleston, South Carolina, entered eternal rest Sunday, October 22, 2023. Her graveside service will be held Saturday, October 28, 2023, in Bethany Cemetery, 10 Cunnington Avenue at 12:00 pm. The family will receive friends on Friday from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm in J. Henry Stuhr Inc., Downtown Chapel, Calhoun St.  Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc. Downtown Chapel.

Mary was born May 11, 1926, in Walhalla, South Carolina, the daughter of William Creighton Elrod and Alice Corbin Elrod.  She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Winthrop University. She taught science to high school students and worked as a chemist at Tennessee Eastman Corporation. Later Mary worked as a chemical technician at the Medical College of South Carolina. At the Medical College she worked for Dr. William McCord on the development of the first breathalyzer.

Mary was an active member of St. Matthews Lutheran Church serving in many roles at the church including the archive committee and the church council. She also served as a member and president of the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.

In addition, she was active in many local, state and national organizations serving as president of the Charleston County Medical Society Auxiliary, the S.C. Medical Association Alliance, the Florence Crittenton Home, the Arion Society Auxiliary and the League of Women Voters of Charleston County. She was inducted into the Charleston Federation of Women’s Clubs Hall of Fame. She was an active member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. In her spare time, Mary enjoyed gardening, investigating the genealogical history of family and friends, reading and chatting with friends. Most of all she loved traveling to the family home in West Union, SC which she built following the death of her husband.

She was preceded in death by her husband Julius Ray Ivester, MD, her parents, brother Alvon Elrod, and her sister Miriam Elrod. 

She is survived by her son, Julius R. Ivester, Jr. MD (Rebecca); three daughters, Susan Ivester Rees Ph.D. (Fred) of Mobile, AL, Laurie I. Pendarvis (Allen),  SonDe I. Smith (Donnie); younger brother, William Elrod, Ph.D. of Clemson, SC; and nine grandchildren, Robin H. C. Ivester, MD, Anna E. Ivester, MD (Dan), Max Ivester (Christina), Allen Pendarvis, Jr. MD (Lauren), Gabrielle P Radwanski (Gentry), Sean Pendarvis, Megan Pendarvis, Donald Richard Smith, Taylor Smith.

We will miss you, Grammer!

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Roper St. Francis Foundation 125 Doughty Street, Suite 790, Charleston, SC 29403, or to St. Matthew's Lutheran Church 405 King Street, Charleston, SC 29403.