Miriam Elizabeth Counts

FUNERAL HOME

Mcalister-Smith Funeral & Cremation - West Columbia

200 State Street

West Columbia, South Carolina

Miriam Counts Obituary

CAYCE - On December 21, 2010, Miriam Elizabeth Counts, age 84, passed away after a long illness. A long time Cayce resident, she was a descendant of Johanas Kountz who with his family settled on a 350 acre land grant from British King James II in South Carolina's Dutch Fork. The daughter of Lutheran Missionaries, Miriam was born in Monrovia, Liberia, Africa on May 10, 1925 where her parents were serving at the time. She was educated in South Carolina schools, at Marion College, and at the Philadelphia, PA Lankenau School of Nursing. A lifelong Registered Pediatric Nurse, she was employed at Columbia's Richland Memorial Hospital from which she retired as Head Nurse in the early 1980's with over 30 years of service. She was a member of West Columbia's Mt. Tabor Lutheran Church, Lutheran Church Women, and held a lifetime membership in the Women's Missionary Society.

She is preceded in death by her parents Rev. Paul M. and Bertha E. Counts beside whom she is being laid to rest, a brother Paul M. Counts, and nephew and niece George Paul and Donna Lynn Kasparek. She is survived by her sister Esther C, (Frank) Kasparek, Sturtevant, WI; sister-in-law Hazel Counts, Newport News, VA; nieces Dr. Sue K. Goetz, Bristol, WI; Elizabeth Ann (Mike) Phillips, Arpin, WI; Virginia Ruth (Mike) Kelley, Woodinville, WA; Linda Counts, Hampton, VA; Jim (Michelle) Gardiner, Hayes VA; and eight grand nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held at Thompson Funeral Home of West Columbia, 200 State Street at 10 a.m. Wednesday, December 29, 2010, prior to the service at the church. Funeral services will be held at West Columbia's Mt. Tabor Lutheran Church, 1000 B. Ave, at 11 a.m. Wednesday, December 29th, with internment to follow at Southland Memorial Gardens, 700 W. Dunbar Rd., West Columbia, SC. It was one of Miriam's wishes that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to Mt. Tabor Lutheran Church, West Columbia, SC, 29169.

Family and friends may sign online guest book at www.thompsonsfuneral.com

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Published by The State on Dec. 27, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for Miriam Counts

8 Entries

Phillip & Judy Heise

December 27, 2010

It has been 20 years since we attended church with Miriam at Transfiguration LC but recall her quiet, gentle ways and above all, her devotion to God. Our deepest sympathies to the family.

Joe Counts

December 27, 2010

May the blessing of the Lord continue to be with the family during these sad times.I don't personally know her,but just reading of her good work in so many people life,and most of all to see the Counts name always reflects a beautiful side of history.

Sue Goetz

December 27, 2010

Everyone who knew Miriam was blessed by the experience. She was a kind and gentle soul who loved little children and dogs and saw the good side to their mischief. She was always generous and loved to take us on outings; even the ones that we thought were far above our means. I began to imagine that impossible things might be possible when she visited.
I'll always remember how she'd cock her head to the side and smile with a twinkle in her eye when she had a funny remark to say in her soft voice.
I'll remember her with love, as she was when she was well, and I thank the Lord that she has a home with Him now, without pain or fear or confusion.

Sue Goetz

December 27, 2010

Linda Counts

December 26, 2010

To Esther & Family, Catherine & Family and To Miriams Family, I would like to express my deespest condolences to you all at this time of Miriams passing. I regret not being able to be at the funeral, but financial constraints keep me from being able to attend. It would have been great to see and meet the folks who I am related to. Miriam is and was a wonderful person with a huge heart, she always gave to everyone, and with her being a nurse, I know there are many people who will miss her. She will be greatly missed by all whose lives she touched both in being a pediatric nurse and in the church as well. It breaks my heart to know that her health deteriorated so fast and that she did not know who I was when I called her, but she is in a better place now, and she is not suffering anymore. She is reunited with family and that is a good thing. My thoughts and prayers go out to all of you. We all should embrace life and live it to the fullest because we never know what could happen at any moment and whether it will be out last. We should embrace family and friends and let them know how we feel about them, we should not ever miss a moment to tell them that we love them. Miriam is greatly loved and greatly missed and life won't be the same without her.

The Staff of Thompson Funeral Home

December 27, 2010

Offering our deepest sympathies during this time.

Hazel Counts

December 26, 2010

To Esther & The Counts Family,
I was so upset to hear about Miriams passing. You all have my deepest condolences at this time. I will miss Miriam, it is never easy to lose a family member and to know that Miriam was ill, it is a blessing that she is not suffering anymore.

Linda Counts

December 26, 2010

Miriam, you are greatly missed and you will always remain in my heart. I have fond memories of being there in South Carolina when the family was all together. I regret so much not calling you more than I did, I wish so much that I had gotten to talk to you more than I did, but you are in a happy place now, you are not suffering and you are at peace and that is a good thing. I love you. You will be greatly missed by everyone whose lives you touched and I can imagine that there were so many lives that you touched when you were a nurse. Just know that you are greatly missed...

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