Mary Lee Cheek

Surrounded by her family, Mary Lee Cheek, age 72 of Taylors, passed from this life to her forever home on December 21, 2012, at St. Francis Hospital, Greenville. She was the wife of the late James R. Cheek. She was born in Tryon, NC at St. Luke’s Hospital to the late Joseph and Francis King Lee, and raised with her seven siblings on the family dairy farm in Landrum, SC. She graduated from Landrum High School and Furman University and enjoyed teaching third grade until her children were born. Mary returned to work blessing the lives of countless children as the director of weekday preschool ministries at Taylors First Baptist Church, a position she held for 28 years. She stayed busy with her three sons but also enjoyed sewing and gardening, and would never turn down the opportunity to cook a meal for others. She loved nothing more than being a member of Taylors First Baptist Church and spent those 40 years serving in a multitude of capacities. Although her health declined as she battled cancer for 25 years, she never ceased in finding ways to put others ahead of herself. From keeping children in the nursery to making mission dolls once homebound, serving was the common theme of her life. Surviving are three sons and their spouses, Tommy and Sonja, their children, Jacob and Jenny Ann of Greenville, David and Caroline , their children, Duncan and Amzie of Greenville, and Joel and Colleen, their children, Corey and Joshua of Thousand Oaks, CA; two brothers, Ernest Lee of Greensboro, NC and Robert Lee of Landrum and two sisters, Sarah Frances Stokes of Hunstville, AL and Elizabeth Beazley of Martinez, GA. Friday, December 28, 2012 at 1:00 p.m., a private burial service for the family will be held at Taylors First Baptist Church Cemetery. A celebration Mary’s life will be held in the church at 2:00 p.m. Visitation will follow in the gathering space at Taylors First Baptist Church. Contributions may be sent to the Connie Maxwell Children’s Home, P.O. Box 1178, Greenwood, SC 29648 or the Taylors Free Medical Clinic, 400 West Main Street, Taylors, SC 29687. Online condolences may be made at www.thewoodmortuary.com.

Mary Lee Cheek

February 19, 1940 - December 21, 2012