Margaret W. Mccarley

Mrs. Margaret Gaynelle Whaley McCarley, 83, of Oak Hill Road, Union, passed away on Monday, April 3, 2023, at her home.

Mrs. McCarley was born on December 10, 1939, in Union, SC, and was the daughter of the late Ernest Derieux Whaley and Ossie Cudd Whaley. She was the devoted wife of John David McCarley, Sr, for 62 years until his passing on January 21, 2023.

Margaret was the loving Mother of her three children, John David McCarley, Jr., Julia McCarley Bass and the late Kevin Whaley McCarley. She is survived by her grandchildren, Thomas Cody McCarley, and Lauren Gabrielle (Abby) McCarley and her son-in-law, J. Alan Bass.

Mrs. McCarley was a graduate of Union High School and received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Education from Winthrop College. While in college, Margaret played tennis and was a member of the Winthrop College swim team. She was a certified lifeguard; one of the first females certified in the state.

Mrs. McCarley was a retired teacher having taught at Monarch Elementary School and Union Christian Day School. "Mrs. McCarley" as so many knew her, had a passion and heart for teaching…it was her calling. For 41 years, she taught several generations of students in Union County. It wasn't uncommon to have Mrs. McCarley as your teacher, marry someone who had her as a teacher, have her again as your child's teacher, and even again as the teacher of your grandchildren. Once her student, always her student…she held an interest in her students' educational accomplishments early on and later in life. The foundations and futures of learning she helped build in the education of the students in Union County will be remembered and cherished forever.

Mrs. McCarley was a devout Christian and was a member of the First Baptist Church in Union where she served on the Finance Committee and served as a Vacation Bible School teacher for many years. She was an active member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and served as Regent for many years as had her mother, Ossie C. Whaley. Of all the many jobs and positions she held at church and in her community, her favorite was being the best grandmother she could to Cody and Abby.

Mrs. McCarley is survived by her brother-in-law, Billy Wylie; nephews, Ham Whaley (Janet-Leigh), Sean Whaley (Stephanie), and Ronnie Pierce (Tammy); niece, Sherrie Callahan (Mike); great nieces, Suzy Garner (Michael), Katy Henderson (Anthony), Bethany Howell (Kole), Leah Kravats (Sean), and Caroline Whaley; great nephews, Chris Pierce, Reese Pendleton, Mikey Callahan (Lea), Ethan Pendleton (Hannah), Hamilton Whaley, Shane Whaley and Sam Whaley; great-great niece, Sarah Hope Henderson; and great-great nephews, Hayden Garner, Houston Garner, Kolton Howell, Kallen Howell and Clarke Callahan. Mrs. McCarley was also survived by a special friend and co-worker, Annie Pearl Bell, and family friend, Ronnie Thomason. She was predeceased by sisters-in-law, Mildred M. Pendleton and Collen M. Wylie, a nephew, Rev. Rick Pendleton and wife Donna and a niece Debbie Rector (Tommy).

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 PM, Monday, April 10, 2023, at the S.R. Holcombe Funeral Chapel conducted by the Rev. Dr. Steve Lemons. Burial will follow at Union Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held from 1:00 until 3:00 PM Monday at the chapel prior to the services.

Active pallbearers will be Bo Whitney, Nick Shetley, Jimmy Kimbrell, Cody McCarley, Jeff Littlejohn, Michael "Third" Henderson and Mike Callahan. Teachers and faculty of Monarch Elementary and Union Christian Day Schools are asked to sit in a group.

Those wishing to make a charitable contribution in Mrs. McCarley's memory may direct their contribution to the First Baptist Church, 405 E. Main St., Union, SC 29379 or to a charity of one's choice.

The family will be at the home of beloved niece, friend and confidant, Sherrie Callahan, 173 Will Palmer Rd., Union.