Annie Louise Blencowe

Annie Louise Pressley Blencowe was born on December 17, 1928 in Columbia, SC at home on Laurens Street. She passed away peacefully on May 3, 2025 with her children by her side. She was the daughter of David Asbury Pressley, Jr. and Melissa Warlick Pressley.

She attended the Columbia City Schools including McMaster Junior High School and graduated from Columbia High School in 1946. After high school she attended Mary Baldwin College in Stanton, VA for two years and graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1950 with a double BA degree in Spanish and English. She was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority, Beaux Arts and was on the “Y” Cabinet.

On October 6, 1951, she married Richard Randolph Blencowe at Washington Street Methodist Church in Columbia, SC. Annie Louise and Richard remained together for over 72 years until his death in 2024.

Her father was the organist and choir director for over 60 years at Washington Street Methodist Church. He was born in Columbia in 1878 and became the organist at the age of 16 in 1894. He was also the professor of organ at Chicora College for Women. The Pressley family were life-long members of Washington Street Methodist Church. Her mother was from Statesville, NC and came to Columbia as professor of piano at Chicora College for Women.

Annie Louise was an active member of Washington Street Methodist Church as a member of the choir and as a Sunday school teacher. After her marriage with blessings from her parents, she and Dick joined St. Martins in the Fields Episcopal Church in 1955 where they were both very active members. She was a long-time member of the Altar Guild, a Sunday school teacher, and Girl Scout leader.

She was a member of the Junior League of Columbia where she served on the board as treasurer. She was also a member and co-regent of the Ann Pamela Cunningham Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, The Huguenot Society of South Carolina, The Columbia Ball, Quadrille Club, the Columbia Garden Club, and the Evening Music Club. Also, she was a member of several book and bridge clubs and enjoyed playing shanghai with her friends.

Mrs. Blencowe was a real estate agent at the Blencowe Company for 10 years with her husband Dick as broker. She was also one of the “Trail Blazer Agents” working under the late Jeanne Kean at the beginning development of Gregg Park in Columbia.

Anne Louise was predeceased by her beloved husband, Richard Randolph Blencowe Sr., her parents, and a special uncle and aunt, George Trezevant Pressley and Annie Geddes Pressley. Her children are Ann Pressley Blencowe, David Trezevant Blencowe (Ginger Lowrey), Richard Randolph Blencowe, Jr. (Edye Fordham), and Robert Chapman Blencowe. Her grandchildren are Jennifer Trezevant Blencowe Waites (John Christian Waites), Hunter Pressley Blencowe, and Richard Lumsden Blencowe. Her great grandchildren are Riley Rose Waites and Christian Monroe Waites.

Her family would like to give a special thank you to Dr. Brad Word and his staff for the special care and determined effort that allowed both of our parents to enjoy a long and healthy life. Dr. Word’s dedication to life will be forever cherished by our family.

Her caregivers during the last years of her life were Francis Shearer, Novia Smith, and Leslie Williams. These wonderful ladies brought our mom joy on a daily basis. We thank them from the bottom of our hearts.

We would also like to thank nurses Amelia and Kendra of (Prisma Health) Baptist Hospital for their unwavering compassion towards our mother while under their care.

Services for our mother will be held on June 9, 2025, at 11:15 AM at St. Martin’s in the Fields Episcopal Church in Columbia with a reception immediately following in the parish hall. A private burial will be held at Elmwood Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to:

St. Martin’s in the Fields Episcopal Church Foundation

5220 Clemson Avenue

Columbia, SC 29206

Washington Street Methodist Church Foundation

1401 Washington Street

Columbia, SC 29201

Trenholm Road Methodist Church Television Ministry

3401 Trenholm Road

Columbia, SC 29204