Toccoa Switzer

August 5, 2017 Mrs. Toccoa Bailey Wise Switzer of Union, SC passed away on Saturday, August 5, 2017. She was born on December 14, 1930 in Clinton, SC to the late Hercules Milledge Wise and Mercer Bailey Vance Wise. She was a loving and beloved wife, daughter, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend who brought joy to all who knew her. After graduating from Washington Seminary (now known as Westminster School) in Atlanta, Georgia, Mrs. Switzer attended Stephens College in Columbia Missouri where she received an AA degree in 1951. She continued her education at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, receiving a BFA degree in 1953. While at Ohio State, she was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority. In the fall of 1953, Mrs. Switzer enrolled in nursing school at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga. but was "sidetracked" upon meeting James Layton Switzer, a textile executive from Union, SC. They were wed in 1954 and remained married until his death in 1989. Two years later, Mrs. Switzer married Dr. Paul Kent Switzer, Jr., an internist in Union. Dr. Switzer passed away in 2012. Mrs. Switzer was active in her adopted town of Union. She was a Den Mother with the Cub Scouts, a volunteer with the American Red Cross as well as a Sunday school teacher at Grace United Methodist Church for forty years. She also served as Chairman of the Building Committee and Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Grace Church among many other roles. In addition, Mrs. Switzer was a member of the Board of Directors of Union's Great Town Program, the Board of Directors of Union's Main Street Program and the Board of Directors of the Union County Chamber of Commerce, where she served as President. Her other civic involvements included the Union County Healthcare Foundation Board, the USC-Union Partnership Board and the building committee of the Union Carnegie Library. She was also a charter member and President of the Union Cotillion Club. Outside of Union, Mrs. Switzer served on the Board of Trustees at Wofford College, the Board of Directors of M. S. Bailey and Son, Bankers, the Board of Directors of Clinton Investment Company and the Board of Directors of the Bailey Foundation. In 2014, Mrs. Switzer founded the Piedmont Physic Garden, a non-profit organization and botanical garden in Union. Inspired by the Chelsea Physic Garden in London, England, PPG's mission is to exhibit and promote the medicinal, economic, cultural and environmental importance of plants to the people of Union County and the surrounding Piedmont Region of South Carolina. Surviving Mrs. Switzer are her three children, Dr. Paul Kent Switzer III (Augusta) of Spartanburg, SC, James Layton Switzer, Jr. (Elizabeth) of Spartanburg, SC, and Toccoa Bailey Switzer of Charlotte, NC: five grandchildren and one great-grandchild. The family wishes to express their deepest appreciation to her assistant, Dianne Hendricks and her caregivers, Lorinda Robins and Crystal Dabbs. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. David Berry, Pete Berry, Scott Fant, William McBee, Robert Page and Carlisle Oxner. A Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 AM on Monday, August 7th at Grace United Methodist Church in Union conducted by Reverend David Bauknight. The family will receive friends at a reception at the Piedmont Physic Garden at 301 E. South Street directly following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Piedmont Physic Garden PO Box 603 Union, SC 29379.