Mary Margaret Ready

WEST COLUMBIA - Mary Margaret Jumper Ready, 84, of West Columbia, died peacefully on July 2, 2014 while surrounded by family. Margaret was born on April 17, 1930 in Lexington County, to Maxcy Randolph Jumper and Zara Lee Long Jumper Sharpe. She was a 1949 graduate of Lexington High School where she excelled in sports, most notably, basketball and track and field. She was a member of the 1948 All State Basketball Team, crowned homecoming queen and was a cheerleader for four years. Shortly after high school, she met and married her husband, Denzil (D.P.) Ready and they immediately started a family. After years of being a stay at home mother and with all of her children school age, Margaret began a career with General Electric Corporation (later, Philip Component) where she worked until retirement. The ultimate Gamecock fan, Margaret supported USC athletics and The Gamecock Club with loyal devotion and enthusiasm. For fifty-plus years, she rarely missed a Carolina football game (home or away), enjoyed baseball games at Sarge Frye Field and cheered on the basketball team year after year. She had a great love for the beauty and variety of flowers. She enjoyed gardening and working countless hours in her yard. She welcomed each of God’s seasons by trips to local nurseries to select the perfect plants to incorporate in to her yard. Margaret lived a well-lived life in Christ and was lovingly known as “Nana” to her grandchildren and great-grandson. They were the joy of her life. She was a member of Fellowship Baptist Church and the Pastor’s Sunday School Class. Margaret’s church became an extended family and her brothers and sisters in Christ supported her faithfully through her failing health.

She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Denzil (DP) Ready, daughter and son in law, Vicki and John Lybrand of Pendleton; daughter, Donna Tollison of West Columbia; son, Graham Ready of Batesburg and Hollywood, CA; granddaughters, Meridyth Lybrand Robinson and husband, Daniel, of Alexandria, VA, Macey Lynn Tollison of Lexington; great-grandson, John Daniel Robinson, of Alexandria, VA; brother-in-law, J.D. Williams of Leesville and nieces, Debbie Zinker of Florence and Tracey Wooten of Lexington. She was predeceased by her parents, a son, Randolph (Randy) Patrick Ready; sister, Shirley Jumper Williams; brother, Rudy Jumper and granddaughter, Morgan Lee Tollison. In addition to her family, Margaret’s very special companion in life was “Baby Jack.” He never left her side and brought her much joy and peace as her health failed and she became confined to the home.

The family would like to thank Ann Robinson that lovingly and devotedly cared for Margaret and assisted the family, in the home, during her long illness. Also, a heartfelt thank you to the staff of Tri-County Hospice for their compassionate care.

A funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 6, 2014 at Fellowship Baptist Church, Lexington. The Reverend Don Bell will officiate the service with burial in the Hall-Ready Family Cemetery, Batesburg, SC. The family will receive friends at the church, prior to the service, beginning at 1:30 p.m.. Honoring Margaret as pallbearers are, Malcolm Bryant, Dr. Mark Keisler, Dr. Terry Norton, Bradley Watts, Matthew Watts and Justin Wooten. The family will be at the home of daughter, Donna Tollison.

Memorials may be made to Fellowship Baptist Church, 4238 Augusta Road, Lexington, SC 29073 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements.