Wilma Maddox Erwin

COLUMBIA - Wilma Rae Maddox Erwin, widow of the late Arthur McMurray Erwin, known as Grammie Ermie to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, died peacefully on July 22, 2015, having spent the day surrounded by her loving family. Wilma, born May 1, 1921, was the first child of Myrtle McGee Maddox and Carl Maddox. She was raised in Enoree, South Carolina. Her youth revolved around school and the church and roaming this small community with her younger brother Joseph Kenneth Maddox and her aunt (and contemporary) Frances McGee (Eacho). Despite spending most of her later years in larger towns (Washington, DC, Spartanburg, and Columbia), she never lost appreciation for her small town roots and humble beginnings. Due to the generosity of her uncle Clarence McGee, an Enoree native then a bachelor working at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC, she and Frances attended Winthrop College from 1939 to 1943. Both graduated, Wilma with a degree in home economics. She taught home economics in Hickory Grove, Duncan, and Sharon, South Carolina, from 1943 until 1952. While practice teaching in Sharon, she lived with Arthur (Sr.) and Sallie McMurray Erwin, who fell in love with her. During that time, Mrs. Erwin wrote to her only son, Arthur, imploring him, "Please come home and marry this girl before your father does." Arthur and Wilma met in 1941. They married on December 28, 1945, shortly after Arthur’s return from a three-year deployment during World War II. She always said that it was raining so hard during their wedding that no one, including them, could hear their vows. Nonetheless, the two shared a beautiful life together for almost 33 years. After leaving South Carolina with two children in tow (Corky and Mac), and adding two more to the family (Johnny and Molly) while living in Washington, DC, Wilma and Arthur returned, moving to Spartanburg in 1960. Wilma held high expectations for her children, taught them to be independent and resourceful, and participated in many of their adventures and calamities. She loved them dearly. During her years in Spartanburg, Wilma was an avid participant in a wide variety of activities: a Brownie leader and Cub Scout den mother, Sunday School teacher and head of her Circle at First Presbyterian Church (where she was a member for over fifty years); room mother at Pine Street and Jesse Boyd Elementary Schools; active in her book club, bridge club, garden club and supper club. She served on the Spartanburg Garden Club Council and the board of the Georgia Cleveland Home. Wilma especially loved all the special times her family spent together, from driving across the country to visit Frances and her family in Brownsville, Texas, to happy weeks spent at Pawleys Island during the summers. In her retirement years, she traveled the world: China, Alaska, the Panama Canal, the Holy Land, Australia and other exotic locations. She was an adventurous cook, a gifted interior decorator and a passionate gardener. She loved to entertain for family and friends and created a beautiful yard surrounding her home on Pinetree Circle in Spartanburg. Her spirit will live on with her family and others who were fortunate enough to know her, to learn from her, to love her, and to be loved by her. Wilma was predeceased by her parents, her husband and their son John Kenneth Erwin. She is survived by three of her four children, nine grandchildren, and two great grandchildren: Sue Erwin Harper and her husband George of Columbia; Arthur McMurray Erwin of Columbia, as well as his children Sarah Miles Erwin of Spartanburg, and her children Evan Michael Roughton and William Alexander Roughton, and Katherine Erwin Yates of Anderson and her husband Joel; John's widow Carol Beatty Erwin of Spartanburg and their children John Kenneth Erwin, Jr., of Greenville, Nathan Beatty Erwin of Nashville, and Alexander Miles Erwin of Atlanta; Molly McGee Erwin Anderson of Sudbury, Massachusetts, and her children Joseph Arthur Anderson of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Keith McGee Anderson of Nashville, Carl Jeffrey Anderson of Bradenton, Florida, and Emily Erwin Anderson of Columbia. The family will be forever grateful to the kind staff and residents at The Palmettos of Parklane, all of whom made the last four years of Wilma's life so enjoyable for her. Contributions in Wilma's memory may be designated to Mobile Meals of Spartanburg (mobile-meals.org) or Hatcher Garden (hatchergarden.org). After a graveside service at Woodlawn Presbyterian Church in Sharon, South Carolina, a memorial service will be held in the chapel at First Presbyterian Church in Spartanburg on Monday, July 27, 2015, at 1:30 p.m. The family will receive visitors immediately thereafter in the church parlor. Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the family. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates. Proverbs 31:31