Mary Ann Michel Kemp

Mary Ann Michel Kemp, 87, of Charleston, South Carolina entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, April 9, 2024.  Her Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, April 18th at 10:30am at Saint Clare of Assisi Catholic Church, 990 Etiwan Park Street, Daniel Island. Inurnment will be at St. Joseph Catholic Church at a later date.  The family will receive friends on Wednesday, April 17th from 6:00-8:00 pm at J. Henry Stuhr, Inc.,1494 Mathis Ferry Road, Mt. Pleasant, SC. 

Mary Ann was born July 26, 1936 in Charleston, South Carolina to the late John Patrick Michel and Mary Viola Michel.  She was a graduate of Bishop England High School (1954) and St. Francis School of Nursing (1957).  Upon graduation from Nursing School, she was employed as a Registered Nurse at hospitals in Charleston, SC and Colorado Springs, Colorado.

She married Steve, the love of her life, in 1958 and traveled with family to many US Air Force locations throughout the USA and Europe, spending time away from her native Charleston for 20 years. Wherever she made home for her family, she met and cared for friends all over the world.  With her husband’s military retirement complete, she returned to Charleston to finish raising her family and exploring retirement life with Steve after he closed his own engineering consulting company.  They enjoyed many cruises and trips traveling the world with family and friends.  She was a regular at the Charleston Porsche Club meetings. Through their travels with the Porsche Club she cultivated many friendships which lasted decades.  Mary Ann was right at home showing off her excellent boating skills aboard the “Martini Time”.  It was another one of her favorite gathering places to spend time with her family and friends which included many trips up and down the east coast.  She enjoyed meeting new friends and spending time with her lifetime friends.  She spent countless hours on many beaches, her true happy spot.    

Her priority in life was always her family.  Nothing made her happier than being with her children, grandchildren, siblings and extended family.  Mary Ann was not a stranger to anyone.  Those who knew her were aware of her bigger than life heart and outwardly positive attitude. Mom placed God at the center of her life, she served him daily by lavishing love on all she met. She was a devoted member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. She will be forever in our hearts. We will miss you Mom, you were the absolute best!

She was predeceased in death by her beloved husband of 63 years, Stevenson Everett Kemp and her sister, Christine Murphy.  

She is survived by her daughter, Beth Kemp McDonald (Ralph) of Niceville, FL; her sons, Stevenson E. Kemp, Jr. (Judy) of Mt. Pleasant, SC and Paul D. Kemp (Becky) of Huger, SC and her grandchildren, Austin McDonald (Jessica), Kendall McDonald, Logan McDonald (Tim Sullivan), Allyssa Furmanchik (Andrew), Mattie Thompson (Hunter), great-grandson, Everett McDonald, her brother, John P. Michel, III (St. Clair), and sister, Janice Smith.

Memorials may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1695 Raoul Wallenberg Blvd., Charleston, SC  29407 or Bishop England High School, 363 Seven Farms Drive, Charleston, SC  29492 in her name.