Nellie "Nell" Vincent

1933 - 2025

Memorial services for Nellie Lent Bethea Vincent (Nell) who died Thursday, September 4, 2025 will be held at 2 o'clock on Monday, September 8, 2025 at Main Street Methodist Church in Dillon, South Carolina. The family will receive friends in Asbury Hall at the church one hour prior to the service and at other times at the residence. Kannaday Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Nell Vincent was born August 31, 1933 in Warrenton, Virginia, the daughter of Lillie Harding Hotchkiss Bethea and William Lamar Bethea. She graduated from Dillon High School in 1951 and for two years attended Mary Washington College of the University of Virginia in Fredericksburg, Virginia, transferring to the University of South Carolina, she graduated with honors with a BS in Business in 1955.

In 1953 she married her love of four years, Charles Edward Vincent, Jr. and was his loving, devoted wife for sixty-three happy years until his death in 2016.

Nell grew up as an active member of Saint Barnabas Episcopal Church in Dillon where she served as Church School Teacher, Altar Guild and Choir member. She was the first woman elected to the Saint Barnabas Mission Council on which she served for several years as Secretary.

After becoming a member of Main Street Methodist Church in Dillon in 1979, Nell served on the Administrative Board, Board of Trustees, various major committees, the Altar Guild and was a faithful member for many years of the Charles Wesley Choir.

Nell was a retired District Administrator, Pee Dee District, of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. She was a former member of the South Carolina Public Health Association and a current member of the South Carolina State Retiree Association. She was also instrumental in the formation of the Interagency Council of Dillon County and served as its first Chairperson.

Nell was for years vitally interested in civic affairs and was always eager for improvements and progress in the city, county and state. She served on the Board of Appeals and Adjustments of the City of Dillon for a number of years. Following this she served 29 years on the Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Dillon and as Chairperson of this Board for numerous terms.

Nell was instrumental in the organization of the Willow Lake Association of which she remained an active member. For many years she was an active member of the McLeod Dillon Medical Center Auxiliary, of which she remained a patron. She was a life member of the University of South Carolina Alumni Association, a 50-years plus member of the USC Gamecock Club, and a regular supporter of the USC Educational Foundation.

A charter member of the Dillon County Theatre, she remained an active supporter. For many years she enjoyed, with her husband, membership in the Florence Little Theatre. As one of the organizers of the Dillon County German (Dance) Society, she served several terms as its Secretary and then President. She was a former member of the Cotillion Club of Dillon County.

Born and bred in Virginia, historical Virginia was of special interest to her, resulting in her years of support of Colonial Williamsburg and many visits there and to other historical points of interest in Virginia. Her interest in history and heritage led her to become a member of the Colonial Dames of the Seventeenth Century. In 2017, Nell was recognized by the National Organization for 50 years of dedicated service to the Pee Dee Chapter of the Colonial Dames of the XVII Century.

As a very young child, Nell loved the outdoors and especially flowers. Early in life she began gardening activities, later becoming an avid gardener and eventually a Certified Master Gardener. She and her husband always enjoyed gardening activities together and spent many happy hours working together in their yard. Nell continued this labor of love. She echoed Abraham Lincoln's sentiment when he stated, "When I am gone, I hope it can be said of me that I plucked a thistle and planted a flower wherever I thought a flower would grow." Throughout her life, she enthusiastically practiced this.

On the more social side of her life, Nell enjoyed membership in bridge clubs, the Chit-Chat Club, and fellowship with wonderful friends. Travel, both within and out of the country, gave her special pleasure during her husband's life. She especially cherished the many times they spent in New England in the winter, especially on the cold, snowy, rocky coast of Maine. Since her first visit there many years ago, she said from time to time, "In my next life I'm going to live in Maine." Her remains and those of her beloved Charlie, will be taken to this chosen spot as well as the Dothan Community (Bethea Family) Cemetery.

In addition to her parents and one nephew, Nell was preceded in death by the love of her life, her husband of sixty-three years, Charles Edward Vincent, Jr., who died May 15, 2016.

She is survived by her two sons and "daughters-in-love," son Charles Edward Vincent, III (Cheryl) of Charleston, SC, grandchildren Katherine G. Vincent and Gregory E. Vincent (Brittany) and two great-grandchildren; son William Bethea Vincent (Reida) of Myrtle Beach, SC, three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, including special great-granddaughter, Radley Catherine Plum; two brothers William Lamar Bethea ("Sister" Paula) of Hilton Head, SC and brother Philip Hotchkiss Bethea of Dillon, SC; two nephews and a niece; and special god-daughter Eleanor (Lea) Jenkins Webster.

The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to Main Street Methodist Church Music Ministry, PO Box 229, Dillon SC 29536 or Dothan Community (Cemetery), PO Box 205, Latta SC 29565.

You may sign the online guestbook at www.kannadayfuneralhome.com.