Rosamond “Rody” McClure

Rosamond “Rody” McClure, 93, of Columbia, South Carolina, passed away peacefully on March 14, 2026. A beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, she lived a life marked by warmth, hospitality, service, and deep devotion to her family and community.

Rody was born on July 25, 1932, in Plainfield, New Jersey, to Burnett O. “Bunny” and Gertrude Doane. She spent her early years in a close-knit, supportive household, preceded in death by her parents and by her older brother, Burnett O. “Pete” Doane, Jr., a Navy corpsman during World War II, who passed away in 1974.

She attended Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, where she began building the lifelong friendships and interests that would become foundations of her adult life. While young, she met the love of her life, William “Bill” C. McClure. They married on February 2, 1952, and shared 57 years of partnership before Bill’s passing in 2009. Their marriage was filled with adventure, community involvement, and a shared joy in creating welcoming spaces for family and friends.

Together, Rody and Bill raised three children: their daughter, Margo; and sons, Kent and Mark McClure. Rody was immensely proud of her family and delighted in becoming a grandmother. Margo and her husband, Michael N. Schulte, blessed her with a granddaughter, Alexa M. Schulte. Mark and his wife, Rachel L. (Thompson), welcomed triplets—Katherine, Rebecca, and Ian—bringing the number of cherished grandchildren to four.

Rody had a lifelong passion for serving others and sharing her time generously. She was a dedicated volunteer at the Robert Mills House, where she enjoyed local history and the connections it allowed her to build. She was also an active member of Forest Lake Presbyterian Church, contributing her energy to church life and outreach. Her commitment to community extended to her involvement in the Junior League, where she forged friendships and supported meaningful civic work.

She and Bill were at their happiest near the water—spending summers at their beloved Lake Murray cottage or seizing any opportunity to visit the beach. Their home was always open, full of laughter, and often stocked with bottles of their own homemade wine. Their wine became quietly famous among friends, who eagerly awaited each new batch from the well-loved “amateur winemakers.”

Animals also held a special place in Rody’s heart. Over the years, many loving companions joined her home through the Humane Society, making memorial donations there especially meaningful to the family.

A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, 845 Leesburg Road, Columbia, SC.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to the Humane Society South Carolina, honoring Rody’s lifelong affection for animals.

Rody will be remembered for her gracious spirit, her unwavering devotion to family, her commitment to service, and the joy she brought into every gathering. Her legacy lives on in the family she loved so dearly and the many lives she touched.