MARY McCASKILL

Mary Magdaline Trimnal McCaskill, 85, died Tuesday, May 29, 2007, at a local nursing center.

Born Sept. 20, 1921, in the Red Hill community of Lee County, she was a daughter of the late John Robert Trimnal and the late Mary Jane Davis Trimnal.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Thomas Alvin "Mac" McCaskill, who died in 1995.

She attended and graduated from Central School. Until she moved to Sumter in 1946, she was a member of Mizpah Baptist Church, which was located down the hill about a half mile from her home, where she served as secretary of the GA's and taught Sunday school. Her family donated the property for the church when it was constructed.

After moving to Sumter, she joined the First Christian Church on West Calhoun Street (later referred to as "The Little White Church Around the Corner"). In 1969, she was one of the charter members of Harmony Church, where she remained a member. Miss Mary taught the two and three year olds in those two churches for more than 50 years, leaving the little ones to her assistant, Sharon Nesbitt, in 1998.

In addition to teaching Sunday school, she was active in Child Evangelism and, along with her dear friend, Letha Rogers, established Bible clubs in both their homes on the Boulevard Road and Cheyne Street. Using flannel boards and a little Bible with colored cloth pages, many children were led to Christ.

Miss Mary cooked meals for the Black Jack Beagle Club field trials for many years, and it was well known throughout the clubs in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia, that the men who brought their dogs especially came to eat Mrs. Mac's breakfast and home-cooked dinner.

Many of the children in the neighborhood had a way of visiting each day of the week at lunch knowing she had a meal on the table promptly at 1 p.m. She never knew how many she would serve since Alvin was known to often invite a fellow worker from the shop to eat. Also, some members of the family from "Up the Country" might drop by.

Survivors include three daughters, Rachel McCaskill Miles and June (Jack) Miles, all of Rembert, and Susan (David) Boyce of Sumter; one son, Finley (Cathy) McCaskill of Sumter; seven grandchildren, Jackson McSwain Miles, Romona Stogner, Mary Anne Scott, David P. Boyce Jr., Thomas Finley McCaskill and Seth Boykin McCaskill, all of Sumter, and John Eagle Boyce of Bishopville; 11 great-grandchildren, Cristin Newell Coleman, Cassidy Miles Bradley, Morganne Tindal Bradley, Jackson McSwain Miles II, Mary Rachel Scott, Anthony Miles Scott, Allie Elizabeth Boyce, Anna Elise Boyce, Mary Kaitlynn Boyce, Anne Jackson Scott, and John William Boyce; and one great-great-grandchild, Caroline Elizabeth Coleman.

She was preceded in death by four brothers, Gary Trimnal, Fred Trimnal, George Trimnal and Albert Trimnal; an adopted brother, Alvin Robert Trimnal; three sisters, Eunice Jackson, Louise Corbett and Bettie Boykin Keels.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Harmony Church with the Rev. Drew Choate, the Rev. Robert Norris and the Rev. Andrew Basham officiating.

Burial will be in the McCaskill Cemetery, S.C. Highway 34, Bishopville.

Following the committal service, family and guests are invited for dinner to celebrate Miss Mary's life at her home church, Mizpah Baptist Church, 3659 Jamestown Road, Bishopville.

Pallbearers will be grandsons, Jackson McSwain Miles, David P. Boyce Jr., John Eagle Boyce, Thomas Finley McCaskill, Seth Boykin McCaskill; great-grandsons, Cassidy Miles Bradley, Jackson McSwain Miles II, Anthony Miles Scott; and a special grandson, Gerry Rae Toney.

Honorary pallbearers will be nephews, Larry McCaskill, Jackie McCaskill, Harry Lee McCaskill, Tony McCaskill and Darryl McCaskill.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home.

The family wishes to thank Morningside of Sumter, NHC Healthcare Professionals, Hospice of Tri-County, and Ernestine and Louella Wright for their untiring care, love and concern.

Memorials may be made to Harmony Church, P.O. Box 1878, Sumter, SC 29151, or to Mizpah Baptist Church, 3659 Jamestown Road, Camden, SC 29020.

Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of arrangements.