Harriet Calvert Dempsey

1933 - 2015

Harriet Calvert Dempsey

Greenville

Harriet Calvert Dempsey, beloved wife of Jerry Edward Dempsey, died at home on August 2, 2015 with her family by her side. Born in Abbeville, SC in 1933, she was the daughter of John William Calvert and Harriet Coan Calvert.

Harriet attended Abbeville High School where she was a cheerleader and the editor of her senior yearbook. She was a member of the synchronized swimming team at Winthrop College and graduated in 1956. Her greatest passion was raising her three daughters and being a helpmate to her husband, as well as his greatest supporter. Her greatest legacy is the covenant marriage of deep and abiding love that she and her husband lived out before their children and grandchildren.

Harriet's favorite pastimes included traveling, playing bridge, attending Clemson Tiger athletic events and cheering at the various activities of her eight grandchildren. Rummikub was a favorite game played for decades with her children and grandchildren. If you visited Harriet during the past two years, it is likely that she taught you how to play and challenged you to a game! As a young girl, she had a horse named Dixie which started a lifelong love of horses. Her husband indulged that love by taking her to the Calgary Stampede for their 50th wedding anniversary and to the Kentucky Derby in 2008. Harriet enjoyed music and flowers. To that end, she was a member of the Clarice Wilson Garden Club, the Greenville Symphony Guild and the Music Club of Greenville. She and her husband were avid supporters of all the wonderful arts in Greenville. Harriet especially enjoyed serving on the Board of The Greenville Little Theater. She and Jerry were delighted to sponsor a musical there every year and enjoyed inviting all their friends to the final dress rehearsal. Harriet was a faithful member of First Presbyterian Church of Greenville and an enthusiastic member of the Agape Sunday School Class and Presbyterian Women's Circle 8.

The family would like to thank the staff of Cancer Center of the Carolinas, Greenville Memorial Hospital, Roger C. Peace Rehabilitation Hospital and DSI Greenville Dialysis for the compassionate care given to Harriet during her courageous battle with cancer. A special shout out to Angela Huntley at Roger C. Peace who shared Harriet's conviction that a lady isn't fully dressed until she has on her red lipstick. They would also like to thank her loving caregivers Mary Bishop, Pashana Johnson and Takeena McNeal. Mary was not only a companion and caregiver to Harriet, she was a special angel sent by God to provide comfort and encouragement to Harriet and the entire family during the past two years. Harriet also had a special bond with Unzell Dixon who has been with the family for 17 years. She lovingly introduced her as "my Unzell." The family appreciates the prayers of so many. They were a source of encouragement and comfort.

Surviving are her husband of 59 years, Jerry Dempsey; daughters Libby Hebdon (Mike) of Marietta, GA, Becky Cooledge (Courts) of Atlanta, GA, and Margaret Christensen (Mark) of Hastings, MI; grandchildren Alexandra, Elizabeth and Scott Hebdon, Clay and John Cooledge, and Marion, Lee and Jerry Christensen. She was predeceased by her beloved big brother, John W. Calvert.

We who are left behind already miss her! We are comforted in the knowledge that she loved Jesus and is with Him now. "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."

The family will receive friends at Mackey Mortuary on Wednesday, August 5, 2015 from 5 to 7 pm. A private interment will be conducted at Woodlawn Memorial Park on Thursday, August 6, 2015. A celebration of Harriet's life will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Greenville on August 6, 2015 at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Greenville Little Theater, 444 College St., Greenville, SC 29601; the Greenville Symphony Orchestra, 200 South Main St., Greenville, SC 29601; or Greenville Health System's Cancer Institute, Rare Tumors Center, 701 Grove Rd., Greenville, SC 29605.

A message of condolence may be expressed at MackeyMortuary.com.