Betty Ulmer McGregor

Betty Jean Ulmer McGregor of Hopkins and Summerville was born on April 24, 1930, and died on August 20, 2021. Born in Cameron, SC, Mrs. McGregor was the daughter of the late Esman and Margaret Huffman Ulmer. She was a resident of the Lower Richland community for 60 years. Living only 6 miles from Columbia, she experienced the best of two worlds-country and city. She was predeceased by Sam Evans McGregor, her husband of 64 years, in 2015.

Mrs. McGregor, a 1951 Columbia College cum laude graduate, was a homemaker and committed community volunteer, devoted to her church, her college, her children’s activities, schools, Scouts, and many community and farm-related organizations. As a member of Trinity Presbyterian Church, she served as a ruling elder, church treasurer, circle moderator, Sunday School teacher, and Presbyterian Women moderator. She was honored by Presbyterian Women with an honorary life membership. Upon her retirement after 30 years of service as church treasurer, the congregation honored Mrs. McGregor with a gift to the Columbia College McGregor Speech Pathology Scholarship Endowment. When she and Sam moved to the Columbia Presbyterian Retirement Community, they joined McGregor Presbyterian Church.

Mrs. McGregor served as president of the Columbia College Alumnae Association and the Columbia College Ariail Alumnae Chapter and as president of the Horrell Hill, Richland County, and SC Family and Community Leaders. As state president, she represented SC at the Associated Country Women of the World Conference in South Africa. She also served as president of the Lykesland Tuesday Afternoon Book Club, Lilac Garden Club, SC Master Farm Homemakers Guild, SC Dairy Auxiliary, and the Columbia Council for Internationals. She served as treasurer of the National Master Farm Homemakers Guild, and for 24 years, as treasurer of the Garden Club Council of Greater Columbia.

In 2009, Betty McGregor was named SC Mother of the Year and National American Mother of the Year. She was honored with the Order of the Palmetto in 2009. In 2010, she was honored as Clemson University Tiger Brotherhood Mother of the Year and as a recipient of Columbia College’s Medallion and Distinguished Service Award. Other honors include the Ariail Chapter Life Membership, Garden Club Council of Greater Columbia Life Membership, SC Family and Community Leadership Award, Clemson University Master Farm Family, Clemson Extension Service and Home Development Award, Lower Richland Ruritan Family of the Year. Sam and Betty McGregor were honored with a marker at the intersection of Highway 76/378 and Lower Richland Boulevard.

Mrs. McGregor is survived by her children: the Rev. Lib McGregor Simmons (Gary) of Summerville; Jean McGregor Trice (Joey) of Donalsonville, GA; Jimmy McGregor (Marilu) of Houston, TX; Dr. Johnny McGregor (Lori) of Clemson and West Union; the Rev. Dr. Sam McGregor, Jr., (Kathryn) of Rock Hill. She is also survived by her brother Ralph Ulmer (Elaine) of Cameron and her sisters-in-law Jane Ann McGregor of Lexington and Wynn Horton McGregor of Greensboro, NC. Other survivors are her grandchildren John McGregor (Sarah), Thama McGregor Matthews (Brian), Mac Simmons, Maggie Trice Brannan (Jeff), Katie Trice Kelley (Kyle), Rebecca McGregor, Mary Kathryn McGregor, James McGregor, and great-grandchildren Caleb and Leah McGregor, Genevieve Matthews, Trice and Evans Brannan, Carver and Milo Kelley. In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by her brother and sister-in-law Esman and Eileen Ulmer, her sister-in-law and brother-in-law Catherine and Bill Faver, and her brother-in-law the Rev. Dr. Angus W. McGregor.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Betty U. and Sam E. McGregor Endowment Fund, Columbia College, 1301 Columbia College Drive, Columbia, SC 29203; the Presbyterian Communities of SC, 2817 Ashland Road, Columbia, SC 29210; McGregor Presbyterian Church, 6505 St. Andrews Road, Columbia, SC 29212; Trinity Presbyterian Church, 1000 Greenlawn Drive, Columbia, SC 29209.

The McGregor family is deeply grateful for the home that Sam and Betty McGregor enjoyed at the Columbia Presbyterian Retirement Community and the care that Betty McGregor received there and at the Village at Summerville.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 7, 2022 in Greenlawn Memorial Park.

Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the family. Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com