MARY ALICE TURNER IPOCK
MANNING - Mary Alice Turner Ipock, 93, widow of Ernest Roger Ipock, died on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, at McLeod Hospice House.
Born on Aug. 4, 1930, in Henderson, North Carolina, she was a daughter of the late Charles Brooks Turner and Alice Kittrell Turner. Mary Alice graduated as valedictorian of her high school class and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from The Woman's College of the University of North Carolina (University of NC - Greensboro). She taught and influenced many students as a math teacher at Alice Drive Junior High School, Manning Christian Academy and Laurence Manning Academy, where she also served as guidance counselor and assistant head of school.
As a member of Manning First Baptist Church for more than 50 years, Mary Alice served faithfully as an adult Sunday school teacher, participated actively in Baptist Women, counted church offerings for deposit weekly, and served as the First Baptist Church clerk. Mary Alice also served on the Santee-Wateree Mental Health Board for more than 15 years. She and her husband, Roger, were instrumental in establishing the first transitional mental health facility in Manning, Ipock Place, where she served as a board member and volunteer. Mary Alice also volunteered weekly for more than 18 years, helping with clerical duties, at McLeod Health Clarendon. Mary Alice was an avid and exceptional bridge player, and she enjoyed not only the game, but the friendship and camaraderie of all those she played with and knew through the years.
Mary Alice, affectionately known as "Mimi," possessed a deep love and appreciation of family, leaving a beautiful legacy of faith and strength. Her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sisters, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins all brought her great joy.
Surviving Mary Alice are her four children, Lynn Ipock Pope (Jim) of Charlotte, North Carolina, David Ipock (Debbie) of Kingstree, Karen Ipock Hodgin (Tim) of Wilmington, North Carolina, and Lisa Ipock of Lexington; four grandchildren, Turner Ipock (Kristin), Charles Ipock (Virginia), Brooks Miller (Chris) and Rebecca McGoogan (Graham); eight great-grandchildren, Cayden and Sadie Ipock, Covington, William and Victoria Ipock, Henry and William Miller and Mary Scott McGoogan; three sisters, Ann Collins (Billy) of Raleigh, North Carolina, Ruth Read (Finley) of Lumberton, North Carolina, and Betsy Neal (Clinton) of Raleigh, North Carolina; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday at Manning First Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Phillip Reynolds and the Rev. Charles Epps Ipock officiating. Burial will follow at Manning Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Tom Childrey, Kerr Collins, Moses Luski, Graham McGoogan, Chris Miller, David Neal and Carey Read.
Honorary pallbearers will be Buddy and Peggy Lester, Charlie and Carol Gavin, Mary and Jim Queen, John and Marie Land and members of Mary Alice's local bridge clubs.
Visitation will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday at Stephens Funeral Home.
Memorials may be sent to Manning First Baptist Church, 49 W. Boyce St., Manning, SC 29102; to Santee-Wateree Mental Health Center, 801 N. Pike West, Sumter, SC 29153; or to a charity of one's choice.
Stephens Funeral Home & Crematory, 304 N. Church St., Manning, is in charge of arrangements, (803) 435-2179, www.stephensfuneralhome.org.