Mary Livingston

Mary Lee was born the ninth child of Chap and Hortie Bellamy in Asheboro, NC on April 9, 1928. As Mary grew, she loved to sing when her father, a Wesleyan Methodist minister, played his harmonica during church meetings.

In 1942, her brothers were working in the shipyards of Wilmington, NC, building ships for the war effort. The brothers brought a friend home for the weekend, who soon became the love of Mary’s life. On January 4, 1943, they married in the Horry County courthouse with her parents’ blessings. After the birth of their son, Harry Jr, they moved from Wilmington, NC to military housing on Charleston’s naval base. There Harry worked to repair ships damaged in WWII. After the war, Harry and Mary moved to Crescent Beach, SC and began to build their own home themselves when a surprise came along, their daughter Sylvia. After completing their home, Harry and Mary opened a retail seafood market in Crescent Beach which they ran together for over 30 years. After working in seafood all day, Mary would go home and sew into the night. She became a very accomplished seamstress, even making sports coats for her husband and clothes for her daughter. An avid gardener, Mary loved growing vegetables and flowers and would sing to the top of her lungs while mowing the grass. For a number of years, Mary was ill, and had ten major surgeries including losing her stomach to cancer in 1993. Her faith helped her through very difficult times. Once Mary and Harry retired, they travelled across the continental US, Canada, Alaska and Mexico.

During the 70’s, Mary and Harry became active in the Grand Strand Court Order of the Amaranth. After holding several positions, including Mary singing at meetings across the state, together they served as Royal Matron and Patron in 1977-1978.

Throughout the years, Mary was very active in church, especially in the choir. She was a gifted soloist and praised the Lord with her beautiful voice.

Predeceased by her husband Harry, her son Harry Jr., parents Chap and Hortie Bellamy, siblings and spouses: Eula (Lyle) Gorden, Ina (Gurney) Loflin, and the Bellamys: Lucien (Mildred), Arthur (Juanita), E.J. (Nova), Charles (Modge), Edwin (Lois), Owen, and Clyde.

Mary is survived by daughter Sylvia Kenney, and many nieces and nephews, “adopted” sons and daughters, as well as her church family and friends.

Many thanks to MSA hospice for their wonderful care, and to those who helped so much through her last days.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Lakeside Baptist Church.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.leefhandcrematory.com for the Livingston family.