Inez Berwick Hay James

Name: Inez James Dateline: Greer Inez Berwick Hay James, of 1103 West Poinsett Street, died April 9, 2010 after several years of declining health. She was 92. She was predeceased by her husband of 39 years, Walter Ennis James, Jr., and was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Greer. She is survived by: three children, Charlotte Hay James Koehler and her husband, William Ted Koehler of Greer, Dr. Walter Ennis James, III and his wife Jean Drury Timmons James of Greenwood and Nelle Smith James Howell and her husband, Jeffrey Malcolm Howell of Greer; six grandchildren, Caroline Virginia Koehler Wells and her husband, Charles David Wells of Dearing, Ga., William Walter Koehler, of Summerville, SC, Dr. Walter Ennis James IV of Richmond, Va., Leslie Hay James of Greenville, Jeffrey Ennis Howell of Greenville and the Rev. Elizabeth Nelle Howell of Indianapolis, IN; and two great grandchildren, Elizabeth Hay Wells and Charlotte Winborn Wells. Born on Wadmalaw Island, S.C. on October 1, 1917, she was the youngest daughter of Edith McClung Beckett and Lewis Holden Hay. She was predeceased by her brothers and sisters, Rev. Theodore Beckett Hay, Julia Oakman Hay Leland, Henry Mueller Hay, Lewis Holding Hay,Jr., Frank Seabrook Hay, Elizabeth McClung Hay Mitchell, Edith Beckett Hay Morrison and Mary Moffat Hay. After earning her baccalaureate degree in English from the College of Charleston, she graduated from Peabody College with a degree in Library Science. Arriving in Greer in the fall of 1940, she was employed at Greer High School as the librarian. She met her husband in Greer and together they founded Palmetto State Oil Company where she worked closely with him for many years. She was a founding board member of Greer Community Ministries. The family would like to thank Judith Merritt and many caregivers from Comfort Keepers and Journey Hospice for their support during her last days. A visitation will be on Sunday, April 11 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Wood Mortuary. A memorial service will be at First Presbyterian church on Monday, April 12, at 2 p.m. followed by burial at Wood Memorial Park. Those wishing may make a donation to Greer Community Ministries, P.O. Box 1373, Greer, S.C. 29652.

Inez Berwick Hay James

October 1, 1917 - April 9, 2010