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Source of submission: The Times and Democrat January 25, 2004 Mrs. Mary Henderson Wannamaker, 101, of St. Matthews, current resident of The Methodist Oaks, died Friday, Jan. 23, 2004. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, at the St. Matthews Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Craig Pipkin officiating. A private family interment will follow at the Old Methodist Cemetery. Mrs. Henderson was born July 16, 1902 in Monticello, Ga., the third of four children of Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Henderson. She attended Mary Baldwin College and graduated from the Georgia State College for Women in Milledgeville, Ga., coming to St. Matthews as a second grade school teacher in 1925. In 1927, she married L. Banks Wannamaker Sr. and assisted him in operating their family farm and seed business. The large metal building still standing next to the railroad in St. Matthews was constructed in large part with her personal savings and stored cotton seed of improved varieties which were processed and sold throughout various southern states. During the Depression years, she traveled Calhoun County dispersing government aid to distressed families for a local agency headed by Mr. Skottowe Wannamaker. In the 1940's, the Calhoun County efforts to raise funds to combat tuberculosis were chaired by her. Mrs. Wannamaker was an active and devoted member of St. Matthews Presbyterian Church for over 75 years. The combined longevity and quality of life of she and her husband, Banks, who lived to be almost 101, is remarkable. Surviving are her son, Luther and his wife Doraine; three grandchildren, Elizabeth Salisbury, of Cleveland, Ohio, Banks Wannamaker III, of Charleston, and Mary Jordan Wannamaker, of St. Matthews; and seven great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the St. Matthews Presbyterian Church or to a charity of one's choice. Dukes-Harley Funeral Home of Orangeburg is in charge. Submitted by: Joyce Watts |