Maredo Kelley McDonald

Maredo McDonald, 94, passed peacefully and went to be with the Lord on December 18th following her courageous battle with Alzheimer’s.

Maredo was born in Greenville, South Carolina. A graduate of Liberty High School and Furman University, she was a retired schoolteacher of 32 years, teaching second, third and fourth grade at Pacolet Elementary and Pacolet Middle (Pacolet, SC) and first grade at Wright School (Belton, SC). Maredo was a devoted teacher who genuinely cared for the learning development of each of her students and their well-being.

Affectionally known as “Skip”, she married the love of her life Wilcey McDonald while a senior at Furman. He was a teacher, football and baseball coach and together they enjoyed educational careers, countless sporting events, tending to their abundant garden and special times at the Isle of Palms with family and friends. They were married 44 years until his death in 1996.

In 1997, Maredo moved to the Lowcountry to live closer to her daughter, son-in-law and new grandbaby, Addy, who became the light of her life. “Grammy” was instrumental in helping raise her and the two remained inseparable throughout her childhood and adult years. In recent years, Addy and Kwyn’s son, Everett, brought her immense joy as a great grandmother. As a resident of Sun City for 25 years, her home was known for gorgeous flower beds surrounded by wonderful neighbors. You would often find her in the kitchen baking her famous pound cake and hear her beautiful singing voice accompanied by the piano. We will always cherish her life lessons, silly sayings and memories shared.

Throughout her life, she was a faithful member of Baptist churches in Pacolet, Honea Path and Bluffton. For the last ten years, she was a member of The Church of the Cross.

Maredo was the daughter of the late Thomas J. and Nina G. Kelley. She is survived by her loving daughter Maurisa Grace and husband Michael of Bluffton; granddaughter Addison Grace Pinckney (Kwyn) of Okatie, and great-grandson Everett Pinckney; sister Zoe Whitlock of Liberty, SC, brother-in-law Leon McDonald of Sumter, SC; four nieces and one nephew.

In addition to her parents and husband, she is preceded in death by her sister Grace Price.

The family is grateful for the caregivers at The Pines, The Palmettos and Crescent Hospice.

A memorial service and entombment will be held on Saturday, January 17th at 11:30am at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Pickens, South Carolina.