Mary Coker Ham

With mixed emotions we announce the death of our beloved mother, wife, sister and grandmother. She died peacefully in her sleep in the early morning hours of Sunday June 29th at McLeod Hospice, Florence. She was 82.

She was a gentle soul, a fiercely loyal wife, a generously loving sister and a compassionate understanding mother. Alzheimer's disease clouded her later years but she led a joyous life filled with many friends and many interests. Raised in Turbeville, SC she graduated Columbia College in 1964. She was an English teacher by trade and an excellent one-over the years many former students dropped by, just to tell her how well she had prepared them for college and life in general. Later she helped with the family construction business, at one point helming it, and was even named Builder of the Year in the 1990s. The happiest years of her life though, were spent on Tradd St. in Charleston, where a whole new set of friends and experiences enriched her life enormously. Though Alzheimer's dimmed some parts, her goodness and light steadfastly remained. When Alzheimer's erased her filters we discovered her frank sense of humor; and, her unfailing love and support for those close to her simply intensified. We are grateful for every moment we had with her and we will carry her in our hearts always.

She is survived by her husband James, her children Eloise and Jay, grandchildren James Arthur and Anabel, and siblings Helen Reid, Peggy Greene, Cindy Kreiner and Gerry Coker.

Funeral services will be at St John's Church in Florence, SC on Thursday July 3 at 2pm. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in her honor to the USC Brain Health Fund at 803-237-8008.