Dale Newton McLeod

Dale Newton McLeod went to her eternal heavenly home on January 6, 2025, and is now resting in the arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Dale was born June 11, 1941 in Marlboro County, SC. She attended Marlboro County public schools, graduating as valedictorian of her 1959 senior class at McColl High School. She graduated from Columbia College in 1963 with a degree in Elementary Education, and received her master’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of South Carolina.

During her public school teaching career, she taught kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades. She began her career at Belvedere Elementary school in Columbia. She later taught at Windsor Elementary in Columbia and Lexington Elementary in Lexington, SC. She also taught at Wildewood School in Columbia for a number of years. In 1984, she was honored as teacher of the year for Windsor Elementary School. In 2002, she was a recipient of the Time Warner Cable Star teacher award for Lexington High School, having been nominated for this honor by one of her former students. She retired from teaching to care for her mother who had Alzheimer’s. Her dedication to the care of her mother during the six years she lived with us was an example of her gift of encouragement and Christian love that she continued to show to many family and friends who needed an encouraging word until she was no longer able to write much in her last few months of life. She always included a verse of scripture or a word pointing to Jesus in her cards and notes she loved to send.

Her love for Jesus was foremost; next was her love for family, most especially for her six grandchildren who brought her so much joy. She loved each one with a deep and caring grandmotherly love and she was blessed to live to see them all grow up to be young adults. Her fun loving spirit always held some surprises for the grandchildren when the family got together at different holiday times. Many memories were made during those fun times that will always be special to them.

She enjoyed her ladies circle group, M&M bible study group and the Living Stones miniflock group at church. She loved to cook, and always had some favorite dishes she prepared for family gatherings or church group meals.

She was a loyal Tiger fan and enjoyed going to Clemson football games and tailgating with friends. She was chosen as Clemson Homecoming Queen in 1959 while she was a student at Columbia College. After she and Neil were married in 1960, she attended Clemson one year while Neil completed his senior year and then transferred back to Columbia College.

She loved flowers and always had some favorites that she enjoyed in the summer when they were in bloom. She enjoyed the various wildlife "critters" that frequented our yard at the lake, especially the bluebirds and hummingbirds and ducks.

Dale is survived by her husband of 64 years, Neil A. McLeod, son Ken McLeod (Amy), daughter Amy Owens (James), and six grandchildren- Madison Nichols (Case), Katie Smith (fiancé Holden), Riley McLeod, Emily McLeod, Hayden Smith and Sam McLeod. She was pre-deceased by her parents, Roy and Audrey Newton, and her brother, R. L Newton of McColl, SC. and daughter-in-law Kathy McLeod of Mooresville, NC.

A memorial service will be at Lexington Presbyterian Church, 246 Barr Rd, Lexington, SC on Saturday, January 11. There will be a visitation at 1:00 pm followed by the memorial service at 2:00 pm in the sanctuary. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Lexington Presbyterian Church or to The Camp Cole Foundation, Inc.,1571 Crossing Creek Rd, Eastover, SC 29044.