Mary Sutton Wilson

Mary Sutton Wilson, Wife, Mother, Friend and Educator, passed away peacefully at her home the afternoon of July 12, 2010.  She was a devoted wife to Waylon B. Wilson, Sr. who predeceased her in 1998 after 58 years of marriage.  The Wilson's were active members of First Baptist Church of Charleston, where they taught Sunday School and served on many committees.

The relatives and friends are invited to attend her funeral services Thursday, July 15, 2010 at ten o'clock in J. HENRY STUHR, INC., DOWNTOWN CHAPEL. The burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery, in Columbia, SC at two o'clock.  Friends may call at Stuhr's Downtown Chapel Wednesday between five and seven o'clock.

She was born Mary Itha Sutton, November 17, 1917 in Graymont (now called Twin City), GA, the daughter of Cole Benjamin Sutton and Nora Crouch Sutton. Both were educators and Cole served in the House of Representatives of South Carolina. Most of her early years were spent in Columbia, SC where she grew up with her two brothers, Cole and Frank.  She was a 1938 graduate of the University of South Carolina and was a lifelong member of Beta Omicron Chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority and received her Masters Degree from The Citadel.

Mary was a teacher for forty-two years in the South Carolina Public Schools, in Ridgeland, Harleyville-Ridgeville and finally St. Andrew's Parish High School, where she became head of the English Department and retired after thirty-three and a half years. There she was greatly appreciated and received the 1976 Teacher of the Year award.  She gained much pleasure acting as the faculty advisor for the St. Andrew's Year Book for many years.

"Mrs. Wilson" was always remembered by her students and over the years many former students wrote appreciative letters as they pursed college, careers and began their adult lives.  Her students and her family are her Legacy.

She is survived by a daughter: Mary Sutton Wilson Dorn of Charleston, SC; a son: Waylon B. Wilson, Jr. (Susie) of Fort Mill, SC; five grandchildren: James Dorn (Janette)  Bettye Dorn, Itha Trantham (Tim),  Danelle Lane (Craig) and Ashley Wilson; seven great grandchildren: Deidre, Christina, Renee, Taylor, Harley, Nora and Wilson.

Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to a charity of your choice.