Francese “Cese” Cardwell Newcomer

Born in 1936 in Columbia as Francese Russell Cardwell, she was a daughter of the late Joseph Randolph Cardwell and Josephine McCaw Cardwell.

She is survived by three children: Deborah “Debbie” Hough Homer (Greg), Katherine “Kitty” Hough Thompson (Ron), Albert Randolph “Randy” Hough, Sr., grandchildren: Albert Randolph “Rand” Hough, Jr., Caroline Elizabeth Hough, Elizabeth Homer-Leggett (Ben), Samantha Homer and Ashley Homer (Ryan Ehrlicher) and great and great-great grandchildren.

Her son, Albert Joseph “Little Joe” Hough died in infancy, but Cese’s love for him is eternal.

She attended the old Columbia High School and the University of South Carolina.

Cese worked at a number of companies and government agencies through the years, including second jobs as she worked hard to provide for her children, who never wanted for anything that mattered. She provided them with unlimited love. She was especially skilled at providing adventures for her children with magnificent economy. This included day trips to wonderful locations as well as nightmarish ones, (think Charleston and Fat Man’s Forest in Augusta), playing with lions, feeding ducks, climbing lighthouses, dodging runaway cars, riding in cars with no air conditioning or seatbelts in excess of the speed limit with great tunes (not parent music, cool music) blaring from the radio.

She was born during the Great Depression, saw her uncles and father leave home to serve their country after Pearl Harbor, married a future Air Force officer at the height of the Cold War and landed in the 1970s as a divorced woman with two children to raise. She was not a product of her place and time so much as her heart and mind. That heart was large, and that mind was open. She wore flowers in her hair, and big earrings, had an interest in witchcraft, was a runway model, raced her Volkswagen with the Sports Car Club of America, resigned from the Assembly and never joined the D.A.R. She married a Yankee who was, in contrast to what she had been taught as a southern lady, a fine gentleman who brought her much happiness.

She retired from the Richland County Clerk of Court’s Office where, as was her habit, she made countless friends with co-workers, lawyers, judges and anyone she encountered.

Cese loved to cook and sew. Her legendary pecan pies were welcome gifts to old friends, relatives and people she would meet all over town at restaurants, stores and businesses. She never met a stranger. She provided a loving and rather groovy home with candles, flowers, beads and the great aroma of the constantly busy kitchen (but not at breakfast time, she did not do breakfast as she may have been out dancing the night before) and Telly Savalas and Helen Ready singing in the background.

When she lost her beloved husband, Sam, after a too short but joyous and loving marriage, she felt tremendous grief. Her sympathy and empathy for others suffering in the same way led her to be trained as and become a Stephen Minister. She continued to love Sam’s children and grandchildren and they in turn loved her for these last thirty-five years.

An only child, Cese loved her ten Lyles and Cardwell cousins like brothers and sisters as they loved her.

Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, July 20th at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, conducted by The Rev. Garrett Ayers. The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 19th at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.dunbarfuneralhomedevine.com for the Newcomer family.