Evelyn Sloan McMaster

Evelyn McMaster WINNSBORO - A memorial service for Evelyn Sloan McMaster, 94, of Winnsboro, will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 1, 2013, at First United Methodist Church, Winnsboro, SC, conducted by the Rev. Bart Sistare. The family will receive friends following the service, in the church fellowship hall. Mrs. McMaster, widow of James Fleming McMaster Jr., died Monday, May 27, 2013, in The Heritage at Lowman, White Rock, SC. Evelyn was born July 8, 1918, in Lower Richland County to the late Lorena McKinnon Sloan and Edgar Ray Sloan. She grew up in the Horrell Hill community. Her roots were strongly attached to Horrell Hill and its people for the remainder of her life. Evelyn attended Greenville Woman's College (now Furman University) and graduated from Woman's College of the University of North Carolina in Greensboro (now UNC Greensboro) in 1939 with a B.A. degree in fine arts and education. During the summer of 1946 she studied fashion design at the Traphagen School of Fashion Design in New York City. Though her first teaching positions were that of art teacher in grammar schools, she evolved into a passionate classroom teacher at the elementary level. Her career spanned 38 years, beginning at Cayce (SC) Grammar School in 1939 and ending with her retirement after teaching many years in Fairfield County. Shortly after moving to Winnsboro to teach at Mount Zion Institute, she met her future husband, the late James Fleming McMaster Jr. They were married in 1946 and were actively involved in their church, Winnsboro First United Methodist Church, and other community activities. Evelyn loved all music and was a longtime member of the church choir. She taught Sunday school and was a member of the Lucy Way Bible Class and the Curlee-McMaster Circle. Evelyn loved flowers and arranging flowers. Her arrangements often appeared at church, local weddings, and events held across Fairfield County. Due to Fleming's failing health, they moved to The Lowman Home (now known as The Heritage at Lowman) in 1994 where Evelyn continued to live until her death. Her favorite activities at The Lowman Home were being a member of the chapel choir, the "unofficial photographer" for The Lowman Home campus, and assisting with tending the flower gardens. Evelyn will be remembered as a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and aunt. She is survived by her daughter, Lyn McMaster Sheffield and husband, Robert, of Seneca; son, James Fleming McMaster III and wife, Jane, of Barnwell; grandchildren Ryan Christopher Sheffield and wife, Amy, James McMaster Sheffield and wife Stephanie, Amanda McMaster Capell and husband Doug, Ashley Sloan McMaster; great-grandchildren Caleb Michael Sheffield and Eliana Grace Sheffield. She is also survived by one sister, Margaret Sloan Courtney of Horrell Hill, and sisters-in-law and brother-in-law: Christine McMaster Harris of Chester, Mary McMaster McCormac and husband Jack of Clemson, Joann Woods McMaster of Rock Hill, Rebecca Morgan McMaster of Winnsboro; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband and parents, she was predeceased by two brothers, Willie Ray Sloan and Dr. Charles R. Sloan. Evelyn was known for her qualities of cheerfulness, encouragement and thoughtfulness. She will be remembered for the many unselfish acts of kindness toward persons who were part of her life. The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to First United Methodist Church in Winnsboro, Epworth Children's Home, Spartanburg Methodist College or the charity of your choice. The family would like to thank the staff of The Heritage at Lowman in White Rock for care and support since 1994. They would also like to thank Lutheran Hospice for providing gentle, loving care. Pope Funeral Home is serving the McMaster family. Online condolences may be sent to the McMaster family at www.popefuneralhomesc.com.