Ethel McCants Lowder

Ethel McCants Lowder died peacefully Friday, October 25,2024 at Still Hopes Episcopal Retirement Community in West Columbia, South Carolina, concluding a lengthy, accomplished, joyous and faithful life. She was born July 26, 1926, in Columbia, South Carolina, the daughter of Clarke Wardlaw McCants of Winnsboro, S.C. and Ethel Watson of Chatham, Va. Ethel grew up in Columbia’s Wales Garden with her brother Clarke W. McCants Jr. and sister Katherine Watson McCants (DuBose), both predeceased.

After graduating from Dreher High School, Ethel attended Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Virginia, for two years. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of South Carolina and graduated in 1947 with a BA in Education.

Ethel’s initial employments included teaching high school English in Sumter, S.C., Baltimore, Maryland, and San Antonio, Texas. In marriage she returned to Columbia, S.C. where she briefly stepped away from teaching to raise her two children, largely by herself. Once the children were teenagers, she returned to U.S.C. to obtain a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education, graduating in 1974. During her graduate studies, she simultaneously returned to Brennan Elementary School as a third grade teacher, then eventually to Satchel Ford Elementary, and ultimately concluded her career’s final 25 years at Claude A. Taylor Elementary School in Cayce, S.C., from which she retired.

Ethel was honored as Claude A. Taylor’s “ Teacher of the Year”. She was acutely reluctant to retire and leave her students, who were her beloved “ second family of children”, new every year.

Ethel was active in her community throughout her life with numerous Columbia friends since her youth. She was fortunate to have both her brother and sister and their beautiful respective families locally in Columbia too, as family was always a priority.

Ethel was proudly a member of the Junior League of Columbia, the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America of South Carolina, along with multiple teacher associations. She raised her two children in Columbia’s First Presbyterian Church until joining Eastminster Presbyterian Church in 1989.

After retirement, Ethel took advantage of her freedom to travel to visit England, Wales, Scotland, Italy and Alaska. Additionally, she continued to remain an avid reader/learner until her life’s final year. She loved the outdoors, Lake Murray, Pawley’s Island, playing bridge, entertaining, antiques, furniture, advising her relatives’ higher educational interests, and most importantly, her lovely grandchildren.

Ethel joined Still Hopes Episcopal Retirement Home in 2015 where her brother and sister and their spouses had already retired. Again, family, friends and faith remained paramount throughout her life.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her brother Clarke, her sister Katherine, and two grandchildren, Katherine Rhett Maybank, and Thomas deRosset Maybank. Ethel is survived by her daughter Katherine Lowder Maybank (Bernie) of Charleston, S.C. and her son, Dr. Carl E. Lowder Jr. (Theresa) of Mandeville, Louisiana.

Ethel is also survived by six grandchildren: Carl E. Lowder III of Jackson, Wyoming, Caroline M. Lowder of Mandeville, Louisiana, Christopher M. Lowder of Greenville, S.C, William A. Maybank of Columbia, S.C., Elizabeth P. Aubrey (Alexis) of Boston, Massachusetts and Burnett R. Maybank (Mary Grace) of Charleston, S.C. She is also survived by two great-grandchildren: James V. Maybank of Syracuse, Utah and Robert R. Maybank of Charleston, S.C.

The family would like to express their profound appreciations to all who have known and shown such genuine love and care towards Ethel in her later years at Still Hopes. Though too numerous to thank all, the family thanks all relatives, all Still Hopes Staff, Tacey Gohean - former Director of Community Services at Still Hopes, Prisma Hospice, Brittany Coleman, Donna Parks, Sheneka Etheridge, Stephanie Wicker, Phyllis Cain, Alison Sleeper, Marlene Avant, Ms. Eve and Ms. Penny. Also special thanks to great friends Jan and Ethel.

A profound thanks to Dr. Carol Byrd of Eastminster Presbyterian Church for regular loving visits and timely communions to brighten Ethel’s Still Hopes last years on God’s Earth.

A memorial service will be held at Eastminster Presbyterian Church on Monday, November 4, 2024, at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, the family humbly requests that memorials be made to Eastminster Presbyterian Church, to Still Hopes Resident Fund or any charity of one’s choice. Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the family. Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com.