Rachel grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina, and was married for 55 years to Clayton Carlyle McKaughan also from North Carolina.
Although being a North Carolinian, Rachel loved Greenville, South Carolina. In 1968, she was asked by the Governor to be a part of the Tricentennial Celebration to be held in 1970. Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville would each have venues to commemorate 300 years of South Carolina.
Rachel also worked closely with Mayor Max Heller in the early stages of the revitalization of Downtown Greenville. She opened “The Peoples’ Market” at 111 North Main Street, as a way to showcase the artisans of Greenville and to promote downtown.
Rachel was the founder and executive director of Hill Skills Arts & Crafts Festival, held every year in October at the Greenville Memorial Auditorium. Art was Rachel’s passion, and this festival brought hundreds of artists to Greenville.
Being a National Master Life Judge in flower arranging, and a National Landscape Critic, Rachel began this aspect of her life in garden club involvement. She was an active member of the Greenville Garden Club, the Lake Forrest Garden Club, and the Clarice Wilson Garden Club. In 2020, she was named Woman of the Year.
Rachel was a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church.
Rachel is survived by two children, Donna McKaughan Land, and Michael Carlyle McKaughan (Erin); and three grandchildren, Rachel Garland Land, Quintyn James McKaughan, and Rylee Grace McKaughan.
Graveside services will be held at New Garden Friends Cemetery in Greensboro, North Carolina on Thursday, August 5, 2021 at 3:00pm.
There will be a reception at the family home on Friday, August 6, 2021 from 2:00pm until 6:00pm.
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