Sara Deer Worsham

Sara Deer Worsham died at her beloved home of 61 years in South Windermere on the evening of Monday, June 11, 2012. She was surrounded by her family when she lost consciousness. She was the youngest of five children born to Eve Googe Deer and George Whilden Deer in Fairfax, South Carolina. She grew up in Meggett and Daniel Island and graduated at the age of 15 from St. Paul's High School. She attended the College of Charleston where she was always an outstanding student and had the reputation of being able to read and speak Latin like a Roman. She also attended Business College and was known as a fast and accurate typist. She had a long career in banking, working first for Citizens and Southern Bank, and then acting as the Secretary-Treasurer of James Conner and Company, a small investment banking firm on Broad Street, and continued her career at First Citizens Bank. She also worked at the Chamber of Commerce and the Historic Charleston Foundation.

She was the widow of George Frederick Worsham, who died in 1971 after 31 years of marriage. They had one son, known as Fred Jr. Sara and "Big Fred" were dedicated to the Charleston community and regularly volunteered with various organizations over their married lives together. Fred Worsham, in his capacities as an executive at Coburg Dairy, as International Director of the Lions Club, and as a State Legislator and Senator, gave countless presentations, and Sara was his partner and editor in these illuminating, warm, and always humorous talks. They traveled all over the world together in these roles.

She was raised and married in the Methodist Church but adopted her husband's denomination and attended the Second Presbyterian Church, First (Scots) Presbyterian Church, where she honed her grandmothering skills as a volunteer in the nursery, and finally Westminster Presbyterian Church in West Ashley.

Sara was dedicated to her family and extended family, was a highly regarded hostess, and was a fabulous cook. She made legendary fried chicken and macaroni casserole. To get a taste at the family reunion, one always had to get a place near the front of the line. She was a devoted grandmother and is survived by her only son, Dr. G. Fred Worsham, Jr. and his wife Nancy of Charleston; her granddaughter Alyssa Worsham and her husband Bretton Dimick of Charleston; her granddaughter Caitlin Worsham and her husband Aaron Santos of Hanoi, Vietnam; and her grandson, Cameron Worsham of Charleston. She is also survived by numerous nieces and grand-nieces, but particularly dear to her was Ruby Schweers of Mt. Pleasant, the daughter of her oldest sister, Nell.

There will be a visitation between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. Friday at J.HENRY STUHR, INC., DOWNTOWN CHAPEL, 232 Calhoun Street, Charleston. A graveside service will be held at Bethany Cemetery at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 16, 2012.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Roper St. Francis Healthcare Foundation on behalf of Roper St. Francis Hospice Care, 1483 Tobias Gadson Blvd., Ste. 208A, Charleston, SC 29407.