Elizabeth "Ebie" Camelo

Elizabeth "Ebie" Blizard Camelo, a beloved wife, mother, sister, aunt, and friend, died on Monday, October 28, 2024 surrounded by her family.
Born on September 24, 1967, in Columbia, SC, Elizabeth Pierce Blizard was the daughter of the late Theodore Jefferson Blizard and Eleanor Johnson Blizard. Elizabeth, known to her friends as Ebie, grew up in a loving family, teeming with close friendships. Friendships that spent endless summers playing on beaches along the South Carolina Coast, and endured the challenges of time, distance, and health well into her adult life. With her friends, it was never a question of inviting Ebie-humorous, charming, and beautiful, she and her girlfriends were sure to attract company anywhere they went.
Ebie graduated from Richland NE High School in Columbia, SC in 1987. She next attended Agnes Scott College in Atlanta, GA, graduating in 1989 with a Bachelor's Degree. She then remained in Atlanta and enrolled in the Community Counseling graduate program at Georgia State University, from which she graduated in 1991. It was in graduate school where she met her future husband, Pete, whom she married in November, 1992.
Once married, Ebie and Pete, whom her family considered a "Yankee" given his upbringing in the Northeast, settled in the town of Simpsonville, SC in 1994 and began their family. Luke was first, then Eleanor, then Jack.
No other title did she hold as dear as that of Mom. She selflessly loved and nurtured her husband and three children her entire life, never requiring a special occasion to shine her light on them all, ensuring safety and love as only a mother can. Her heart was always filled with joy and the hopes of a brilliant tomorrow.
Ebie's love for her brothers and sisters was unmatched, as is theirs for her. When her father remarried Brenda Lee, Ebie and her brother Jeff gained five wonderful siblings in Kelly, Kim, Tommy, Jami, Matt, and nieces Alyssa, Crystal, Michelle, Elizabeth, and Emily as well as two nephews, Coby and Cameron. Although separated by blood, this group has made up the core of the Camelo tribe, a family whose bonds are unbreakable.
One friendship that stands alone is that with her best friend, Eleanor Russo, known to her family as Big E. This friendship has survived every chapter of their lives. Eleanor and her sisters brought Ebie immense joy, and showed her what unconditional love looks like.
When not with family or friends, Ebie was an avid consumer of literature, and her family's home became a library of sorts, filled with fantastical adventures on every bookshelf. She also fancied herself a bit of a treasure hunter, and loved scouring thrift stores for trinkets and other unique finds-many of which she would incorporate into art pieces. An artist at heart, her craft room contained everything from paints and ribbon to yarn and a sewing machine.
These words are just a small part of her legacy; her love was her most powerful trait, and it will be missed by all those who were lucky enough to have known her.
A gathering of friends and family will be held at Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes, Southeast, on Monday, November 4, 2024, from 12:00 p.m. until 1:45 p.m., followed by a celebration of Ebie's life at 2:00 p.m. in the Funeral Home Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to VIA Hospice and The Neighborhood Cancer Connection, both non-profits that impacted the family greatly.
Friends are encouraged to share their favorite memories of Ebie with the family by clicking on the button labeled "Share A Memory".