Keeter Horton

Keeter was born on January 21, 1931, in Greenwood, South Carolina, to William Charlie and Mary Helen Keeter Pearce. She lived in Greenwood until age six when she moved with her family to Augusta, Georgia, where she remained until 1945. She later returned to Greenwood, where she would graduate from Greenwood High School and meet the love of her life, “Sonny.” Keeter attended the University of Mary Washington before transferring to Winthrop University, where she graduated in 1952.

Keeter married Ernest Milton “Sonny” Horton right after college, and the couple made their home in Greenville, South Carolina, where they were married for over 60 years before his passing in 2014. Keeter moved to The Cascades in 2012 where she lived out the rest of her life. Known for her warm spirit and deep commitment to family and community, Keeter devoted her life to caring for her children and grandchildren and to serving others.

Keeter and Sonny were often found attending events at Furman University, Sonny’s alma mater, and were longtime supporters of the college, contributing generously to both academics and athletics. The Furman University Pearce Horton Football Complex is named in memory of her father, William Charlie Pearce (Class of 1925), and her husband, E. M. “Sonny” Horton (Class of 1952). In 2000, they donated uniforms for the Furman University Marching Band. In their retirement, Keeter and Sonny traveled all over the world and loved spending their summers with their children and grandchildren at Litchfield Beach.

Keeter was an active and faithful member of First Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday School for over 20 years. She also served as Chair of the Flower Guild for many years and was a member of the Susie Lee Bagwell Circle and the Wedding Committee. Among the many contributions she and her family made to the church is the “Come Unto Me” stained glass window, donated in honor of Helen Hunt, which can be seen upon entering the sanctuary.

Her dedication to the Greenville community extended beyond her church. She volunteered with the Viola Street tutoring project and helped support the donation of the “All for the Love of Children” statue at Greenville Memorial Hospital, where she also volunteered. Keeter was active in PTA, Girl Scouts. Keeter was a founding member of the American Red Cross Tiffany Circle of South Carolina and a devoted champion of the Red Cross mission. Keeter will be remembered for her kindness, generosity, and the welcoming home she fostered for family and friends.

Keeter is survived by her daughters, Anne Horton (Lawrence Bernstorf) of Murrells Inlet, SC, and Hollis Horton McCall (Jeff) of Mt. Pleasant, SC; her grandchildren, Grice Hunt III (Caitlyn), Jamie Hunt (Annie), Laura Horton (Daniel Becton), Katie Horton (Khamari Smith), Heather McCall, Karen McCall Holbrook (Alex), Olivia McCall, and Kyle Bernstorf; and her great-grandchildren, Helen and Hollis Hunt, Ella and Katie Hunt, Alaya Smith, and Lucy and Oscar Becton.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest Milton “Sonny” Horton (2014), her daughter, Helen Horton Hunt (1989) and son, Charlie Horton (2007).

Funeral services will be held at First Baptist Church Church on April 24, 2026, with visitation at 2:00 and Service at 3:00 in the Chapel. Keeter was laid to rest privately next to her husband in Woodlawn Memorial Park.

In dedication to Keeter’s legacy, and in lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the American Red Cross: https://www. redcross.org/donate/memorial-donations.html.

The family expresses heartfelt appreciation to her devoted caregivers—Angela Conway, Victoria Ubah, Tatiana Brown, Janet Omoyele, Tamisha Bryant and Lorriane Wilson of Livelong Wellcare—for their kindness and loving care.