Mary Louise Mims

Born to Julia Louise Thompson and Carroll Dial Gray on Sept. 22, 1942, she grew up in Gray Court and was a graduate of Laurens High School and the University of South Carolina.

Her husband, James Tipton, and her sons, Chris (Jennifer) and Greg, survive her, as do her brother, Carroll Gray Jr. (Joyce), and her grandsons, Frank and William. She was predeceased by her first husband, Frank Mims, and a son, Corey. She had a second marriage, to Robert Baugh.

She started her business career as a widow in 1991 at Century Automotive, a Greenville dealership founded by her husband back when she was a soon-to-be mom. She then opened Piedmont Automotive and for 30+ years led its growth in Anderson and expansion to the Grand Strand.

Her first job was teaching history at Wade Hampton high school; she then joined the original faculty at J.L. Mann, where she taught English, wrote the alma mater and helped forge the school traditions. Before the car business she developed Chapman Place in Chanticleer, her neighborhood of 40 years.

Atop her local interests was the Greenville Symphony, where she chaired the endowment and served two terms as president, among other roles, for more than a decade. Also close to her heart was the Greenville County Art Museum, especially its trips and antique shows. She supported many groups directly and through the Metropolitan Arts Council.

She adored her friends from Thursday Club, Leadership Greenville and the Junior League. She belonged to the Society of International Business Fellows and YPO. In college she joined Kappa Delta and Phi Beta Kappa.

She had abiding interests in music, history, travel and learning. She cherished her time in the Cashiers-Sapphire area and on West 69th Street in Manhattan.

Deepest thanks to her dear friends over the years for their warmth and wit; to Jim Tipton for being as selfless and steadfast as a person can be; and to Tangela, Uniqua and the other pros at the Cascades for their kindness.

There will be a celebration of her life at the Poinsett Club on Wednesday, Sept. 3 at 10am. In lieu of flowers, please direct memorials to the Gray-Mims Endowed Scholarship at the Honors College of the University of South Carolina.