Edith Howell Archer

LEXINGTON - Edith Howell Archer, formerly of Atlanta and Chicago, was born August 23, 1924, in Columbia, SC., the daughter of the late Isaac Cook and Miss John Irvine Howell. She lived her childhood years in Charlotte, NC. Edith married the love of her life John G. Archer on June 2, 1956 and they shared 27 years of marriage before his death in 1983. Edith was a loving mother to her five children and was actively involved in their schools, church, sports and activities. Edith spent many years as a Girl Scout Leader, a member of several women service organizations and was a founding member of the Darien Library. The Darien Woman’s Club honored her as the Woman of the Year. Edith was an exceptional dancer and shared her love of dance and music, especially the Big Band era. She enjoyed golfing, bowling, playing cards, theater and her travels to Europe and cruising Alaska, the Caribbean and Mexico. Edith spent her active retirement years living among dear friends at Mount Vernon Towers in Atlanta. In recent years, she moved to South Carolina to live with family and relish the special love of her great grandchildren.

Edith is survived by her children, Anne Archer (John) Cummings, Margaret Archer, Helen Archer (James) Harle, John G. Archer, Jr.; grandchildren, Chelsea Harle (Evan) Thompson, Jack (Heather) Harle, Kelly Harle, Chandler Cummings; great grandchildren, Gabriel Shea and Jack Archer Thompson; sisters, Goldie Waddell and Elizabeth Wilson. She was preceded in death by her late husband, John and son, Thomas Archer; brothers, Isaac, Irvine, Sinclair and William Howell; sisters, Mae Kavanaugh, Cornelia Pennington and Marjorie St. Clair.

Edith passed away at home on September 6, 2015 at the age of 91. A service Celebrating Edith’s Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, September 26, 2015 at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel, 503 North Lake Drive, Lexington, SC. Edith will be laid to rest next to her late husband and son in Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside, Illinois.