Linda M. Summer

FLORENCE " Linda Miller Summer, 85, died peacefully Saturday, May 7, 2005, at her home after an illness.

A memorial service is planned for 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 10, 2005, at St.John Episcopal Church in Florence.

Interment will follow in Rosemont Cemetery in Newberry at 4 p.m.

Born in Newberry on Sept. 15, 1919, Ms. Summer was the daughter of the late John Ernest and Linda McLendon Miller Summer. She graduated from Valdosta State College in 1941 and earned a Master of Science in Social Work from the University of North Carolina in 1948.

She was a recognized pioneer in the field of social work and was honored with Living Legend awards by the University of North Carolina in 1999, and the University of South Carolina in 2001. That same year, she was also awarded the Order of the Palmetto. She received Distinguished Services awards from the Florence County Association for Retarded Citizens and the Florence County Mental Health Association.

Among her most notable accomplishments were the transformation of the Alexander Home in Charlotte from an orphanage to a residential treatment center for emotionally disturbed children, the development of the first child welfare services program in Richmond County, N.C. and the establishment of York Place, another residential treatment center for children. She also assisted in the development of Florence Hospice, Pelican House retirement community, Altrusa Club™s Florence Foster Home and the Mental Health Awareness Foundation.

In 1991, York Place founded the Linda M. Summer Dyslexia Center, and one year later, the Pee Dee Mental Health Center christened the Linda M. Summer Family Services program. Likewise, Sandhills Academy in Columbia honored her with the Linda M. Summer Media Center.

In 1956, Ms. Summer developed the Florence-Darlington Mental Health center, now called the Pee Dee Mental Health Center. In 1962, Summer retired from the center to become the first social worker to open a private psychiatric practice in South Carolina. During that time, she organized the Orton Dyslexia Society in South Carolina and taught classes at several colleges and universities.

She considered her crowning achievement the 1995 U.S. Supreme Court decision that ruled in favor of a young, special needs client who had been denied an appropriate education by a local public school district. For 8 years, Ms. Summer devoted herself to the case which she initiated.

She was a member of many professional organizations, including the National Association of Social Workers and the Academy of Certified Social Workers.

In addition to her parents, Ms. Summer was predeceased by two sisters, Martha Summer Wilder and Hulda Summer Robuck. She is survived by a sister, Marian Summer Monts, of Florence. Her kindness and humor will also be remembered by a host of nieces and nephews, Linda Hoffman, Lola Josey, Summer Walker, Lynn Monts Mon, Martha Lee Francis, John Monts, Charles Richard Monts, Sr., William Russell Smith, John Robuck and Joseph Robert Smith. She also leaves behind a special friend and caregiver, Mary McElveen.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Mental Health Awareness Foundation at P.O. Box 5096, Florence, SC 29502-5096.

Layton-Anderson Funeral Home, 4210 W. Palmetto St., is assisting with arrangements.