Port St. Lucie, Florida — Mary Lou Rogers Monckton, 93, died peacefully in her sleep Saturday morning, January 21, 2023. Mary Lou was a New Year’s baby, born January 1, 1930, in Durham, North Carolina, to John Wesley Rogers and Margaret Parrish Rogers. She was married nearly 50 years to the late Richard Edward Monckton Jr.
Mary Lou grew up in Durham and lived most of her life in Columbia, South Carolina, before moving with Richard to Port St. Lucie in 2015.
As a teenager, Mary Lou overcame more than a year of being sick with meningitis thanks to a young doctor’s suggestion to try a “new drug that had shown success in treating World War II soldiers.” That drug was penicillin, and to pay for it, her father sold the family car.
A 1949 graduate of Durham High School, she moved to Columbia and worked as a bookkeeper at WIS-TV and at several accounting firms.
She was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and volunteered at St. Joseph’s School. “Miss Mary Lou” orchestrated holiday parties, parades and costume contests as the “Reflections neighborhood mom.” All the children were welcome in her home and her delicious pound cake was frequently requested for birthdays.
For the past 26 years, Mary Lou’s favorite role was as “Gigammy” or “Grandmommy” to her five granddaughters. She would end every call with “Give everyone a hug and a kiss for me. I love you ... more than you’ll ever know.”
Mary Lou is survived by her daughters Elizabeth Monckton Jatczak of Palm City, Florida, and Mary Frances Monckton Hendrix of Aiken, South Carolina; son-in-law Andrew Hendrix; granddaughters Emily, Madeline and Abigail Jatczak, and Sarah and Grace Hendrix; seven nieces and nephews, their spouses and extended families.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband; her brother, Theron Rogers, and sisters Betty Howell and Julia “Judy” Mayo and their spouses; and a niece.
The family wishes to thank the staff of Harbor Place Assisted Living in Port St. Lucie for looking after Mary Lou for eight years as if she were their own Grandmommy.
A graveside service officiated by the Rev. Msgr. Richard Harris will be at 3 p.m. Friday, January 27, at St. Peter’s Catholic Cemetery in Columbia, where the family also will receive friends one hour prior.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 3512 Devine St., Columbia, SC 29205. Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
v.1.8.18