Mary Anness Harper Hite

Mary Anness Harper Hite passed away on August 21, 2008 at the Carlisle Nursing Center in Due West, S.C. She was born in Tabor City, N.C. on January 26, 1917. Her parents were Matt Cleveland and Cara Lea Harper. She grew up in Marion, South Carolina and graduated from Marion High School. She attended Winthrop College and graduated from Farmville Women's College in Virginia. She did graduate work at Duke University and earned a Master's Degree at Furman University. She taught at Swansea High School in Swansea, S.C. where she met her late husband Thomas E. Hite, Sr. She later taught for many years at Langley Milliken and Sharon Elementary School in Abbeville County. She was a devoted member of Main Street United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday school and served the church in multiple roles for many years. She was also an active member of her church circle and the Lillian Killingsworth Sunday school class. She was a long-standing member of Entre Nous Book club. She was preceded in death by her parents and her beloved husband of fifty years, Thomas E. Hite, Sr., her brothers Reverend George Lea Harper and Dr. Matt C. Harper, and her granddaughter Lisa Kaye McClung. She is survived by three daughters, Kaye McClung and her husband Dr. Jerry McClung of Cordele, Ga., Esther Anne Perry and her husband Edgar Perry of Anderson, S.C. and Pat Ross Edwards and her husband Judge Tommy Edwards of Anderson, S.C. She was also survived by her son, Thomas E. Hite, Jr. and his wife Debby of Abbeville, S.C. She is survived by fourteen grandchildren listed as follows: Beth Perry Brannon, Jerry McClung, Patsy Perry McGregor, Dr. Jeffery McClung, Lea Anne Perry Moorhead, Jamie McClung, Dr. Joseph McClung, Clay Ross, Tyler Ross, Heather Hite Stone, Caroline McClung Kiley, Thomas (Tombo) Erskine Hite, III, Merideth Irene Hite, and Mack Hite. She is survived by nine great grandchildren: Anna Brannon, Betsy Brannon, Abby McGregor, Will McGregor, Jack McGregor, Mary Tracy Moorhead, Elizabeth Lea Moorhead, Ansley McClung, and Tucker McClung. Mary Hite dedicated her life to teaching others to love and she will be remembered by her family and all who knew her as "Love Personified". She had a wonderful smile on her face for ninety one years. Her family wishes to express their gratitude to the staff at the Carlisle Nursing Center for the loving care given to Mrs. Hite during the time that she spent there. The family will receive friends at Main Street United Methodist Church at 300 North Main Street in Abbeville, S.C. at 4:00 o'clock PM on August 22, 2008 and the funeral service will follow at 5:00 o'clock PM to be conducted by Rev. Randy Taylor. Burial will follow in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens. Memorials may be sent to the Main Street United Methodist Church "Angel Tree" Fund, P.O. Box 656, Abbeville, S.C. 29620 Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com HARRIS FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES is assisting the Hite family.