Mrs. Caroline Summers Prather

COLUMBIA Funeral service for Caroline S. Prather, 88, will be held at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 15, 2012, at Kathwood Baptist Church, with burial in Greenlawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 5 until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 14, 2012, at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel. Mrs. Prather died Saturday, February 11, 2012. Born November 9, 1923 in Columbia, she was a daughter of the late Samuel Jacobs Summers Jr. and Fair Snelson Summers. She spent her childhood in Cameron, South Carolina. As a young woman, she worked as a legal secretary in Columbia and then moved to Washington, DC during WWII, where she worked at Casualty Hospital. Returning to Columbia after the war, she met the love of her life, Lewis D. Prather. They were married on August 7, 1948 in Cameron. Caroline was a devoted Army wife, mother and grandmother. COL Prather's 37 year Army career took the family to Germany twice and to multiple assignments across the United States. Everywhere they were assigned, Caroline became involved in numerous volunteer activities, but her favorite was being a Red Cross volunteer. She served as the chairman of the hospital volunteers at Fort Jackson, worked with the Army Community Services and military chapels. Caroline and Lewis were devoted to each other. They enjoyed dancing, playing bridge with friends and traveling to the North Carolina mountains where Caroline had spent many summers as a child. Caroline had many wonderful friends and was a member of a very special birthday group for more than 35 years. She was well known for her famous yeast rolls and red velvet cakes. She is survived by her three daughters, Patricia F. Prather of Columbia, who was also her primary caregiver, Christine P. Yeager (Bill) of Fayetteville, N.C., Nell Stover of Chicago; five grandchildren, Jennifer Kaplan (Jordan) of Chicago, Caroline Yeager of Charlotte, Cameron Yost (Jacob) of Winston-Salem, N.C., William Yeager of Charlotte, Lewis Stover of Clinton; sisters, Nell Heriot of Orangeburg, Anne Turner (Clarence) of Greenville; brothers, Samuel J. Summers III (Don) of Cameron, David L. Summers of Conway; and sister-in-law, Mona of Cameron. Caroline was predeceased by her husband, Lewis; son, Lewis Douglas Prather Jr.; and her brother, Thomas Summers. She leaves us with a legacy of love for her family, her faith and caring for others. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Alzheimer's Association, 2999 Sunset Blvd., Suite 102, West Columbia, SC 29169 or Kathwood Baptist Church, 4900 Trenholm Road, Columbia, SC 29206.