Born the third child and only daughter to C. Walton and Kitty Poole Johnson, the founders/directors of Weaverville������Ƶ�s Camp Sequoyah, Karen experienced a most unusual childhood, growing up at an outdoor adventure camp for boys where one learned practical skills, but more importantly, developed a foundational Christian, moral character. Canoeing, hiking, shooting archery, and learning Indian lore figured into her summers, but riding, jumping, and showing horses developed into a teenage passion. Young Karen was a model camper: she thrived in that social outdoor setting and, indeed, dedicated her life to carrying a torch for Christ. Busy parents let her explore the wilds of nature on her own, and sent her at a young age to experience other summer camps around the country (notably in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado), and then later to boarding school at Montreat College. There, and during her fun-filled years at Coker College in Hartsville, SC, she forged friendships that lasted a lifetime.

While working summers in the craft shop at camp, she concluded her education with a Master������Ƶ�s Degree in Physical Education at UNC Chapel Hill, writing her thesis on camping in America, then took a job teaching PE at a private school in Miami, FL. Wanderlust must have taken hold, as she soon famously sold her silver flute to buy passage to Alaska, where she lived a summer with her brother������Ƶ�s young family on the Kenai peninsula. While teaching in Raleigh, NC, she kindled a relationship with a camp counselor she������Ƶ�d met at Sequoyah, who was then teaching at NC State. She and Eustace Conway III tied the knot before God in 1960, binding a marriage that would only be undone 55 years later upon his death in 2015. After marriage Karen gave up her job to start her real career, raising four children in much the same vein as she had been raised, pushing them into the woods, sending them to summer camps, and leading them to revere and celebrate their creator. She perceived her motherly work as lifelong, remaining the biggest supporter and fan of her children and their spouses, of her 9 grandchildren, and 2 great grands, giving tirelessly and big heartedly, thereby earning the moniker Big Mom.

Before returning to her beloved mountains to spend her twilight years, she lived in Columbia, SC, then spent five decades in Gastonia, NC, where she took active part and found caring fellowship at the First Baptist Church. Her love for travel (road trips out West, then to Europe, and continuously, vicariously through her children) paired nicely with her passion for food and eating out. But she will be remembered by most for her exceptional kindness, generosity (gift giving came like breathing to her!), and open heartedness. And her letters. And her inspiring, eternal optimism, fueled by her faith. Even up into her 90������Ƶ�s, and to the very end, bed bound, blind, and mostly deaf, when asked how she was doing, she always believed she was doing ������Ƶ�Good!������Ƶ� and was so glad to see another day. She had business here to attend to, until the Lord saw fit to take her.

The family will be forever indebted to the many friends and dedicated care givers who helped us celebrate her these last years and return a fraction of the love she gave.

She is survived by her four children: sons Eustace IV, Walton, and Judson (Eunice) Conway, all of Boone, NC, and daughter Martha Norberg of Wake Forest, NC. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her brothers Harold and Bill Johnson, and her daughter-in-law Betty Miller Conway. Learn more about Karen Conway������Ƶ�s life through her interviews posted on YouTube: Memories of Sequoyah with Karen Conway ������Ƶ� YouTube

Funeral Service will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, February 28, 2026 at Meat Camp Baptist Church with burial following at Meat Camp Baptist Church Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to Meat Camp Baptist Church, 236 Meat Camp Baptist Church Rd, Boone, NC 28607, or to First Baptist Church of Gastonia, 2650 Union Rd, Gastonia, NC 28054, or to The Salvation Army of The High Country, PO Box 241148 Charlotte, NC 28224.

Online condolences may be shared at www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com

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She was born July 23, 1930 in Union County, to John Wiley Porter and Mary Benton Porter.

Growing up in Rockingham, Lou attended local schools and continued her education at St. Catherine������Ƶ�s School in Richmond, Virginia, and Coker College in Hartsville, South Carolina.

From 1952-1967 she was married to Joe Mack McLaurin of Rockingham. Four children were born to this marriage. She later married Jack L. Presler, formerly of Peachland, who died in 2015.

In 1980, Lou and Jack purchased a second home in the North Carolina mountains in Montreat. Montreat was Lou������Ƶ�s ������Ƶ�Happy Place������Ƶ� where many loving memories were made with family and friends which continue to this day.

Lou was active in Presbyterian churches (PCUSA) while living in Rockingham, Pinehurst and Laurinburg. She retired to Scotia Village in Laurinburg where she enjoyed her life and made many new friends. In 2003, Lou was presented an honorary life membership by the Presbyterian Women in Rockingham. She was a longtime member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Lou������Ƶ�s strong faith in God sustained her throughout her life. She loved her family and was a devoted mother, sister, mother-in-law, aunt, grandmother and great-grandmother.

She was predeceased by her beloved daughter, Beth, who died in 1967.

Surviving are her son, Gene McLaurin (Donna), daughter, Mary McLaurin and son, Dan McLaurin (Lisa); five grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are her sister, Cornelia ������Ƶ�Shep������Ƶ� Wallace, and brother, John W. ������Ƶ�Jack������Ƶ� Porter Jr.

Visitation will be Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, from 1:30 to 2:30 pm at First Presbyterian Church of Rockingham with Pastor Ron Schermerhorn officiating the service at 3 p.m.

Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Rockingham, 904 Fayetteville Road, Rockingham, NC 28379.

Online condolences can be made at watson-kingfuneralhome.com. Watson-King Funeral Home in Rockingham is assisting the Presler Family.

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Our beloved mother, Louise Tomlinson Summerford, age 93, went home peacefully to be with Jesus on August 25, 2023. Formally from Florence, SC, she lived in Lexington, SC prior to her death. She was born in Lynchburg, SC on November 30, 1929, a daughter of the late Ulrich Chester Tomlinson and Mary Tallon Tomlinson.

After graduation from Florence High School, she attended Peace College and Coker College. Louise was a devoted member of St. Paul United Methodist Church where she met many friends she would treasure throughout her life. There she enjoyed working with the MYF and taught Sunday School. She was keenly interested in and was a strong supporter of the Red Bird Missions. Louise was kind and generous to those she knew and to many she did not know. Her heart was compassionate for others and she always saw the good in everyone she encountered. She enjoyed serving those in need throughout the community and in her church.

She remained an active lover of learning on every topic imaginable throughout her life and could usually be found with a book in her hand. She enjoyed sewing pretty clothes for her children and grandchildren, working in her beautiful yard and spending time at the beach. She served on the Board of Directors of Tomlinson Stores, a company founded by her father.

Mrs. Summerford was predeceased by her husband of 63 years, Major Summerford, Jr.; a son, Mex Summerford; a sister, Mary Virginia Cannon Moody; and two grandsons, Tallon Dorociak and Marshall Dorociak. She is survived by three children: Beth Summerford Frazier (Phil), Bryan Summerford (Libby), and Sara Summerford Hargett (Eddie); a sister, Sarah Dixson of Greenville, SC; and a brother, Rick Tomlinson of Beaufort, SC. She is also survived by eight grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, a step-granddaughter, and a step-great-granddaughter.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 30, 2023, at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Florence with visitation one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery, directed by Waters-Powell Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to Samaritan’s Purse, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607; or St. Paul United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 5446, Florence, SC 29502.

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Mrs. Hanna was predeceased by her husband, Herbert Harris Hanna; parents, CD and Bertha Johnson Garrell; sisters, Frances G. Cox, Berniece G. Dunnagan, and Sara G. Stephens; brothers, Dick Garrell and Duke Garrell. She is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth Hanna Sasser (Alan) of Elizabethtown; sister Dulcie G. Bunn of Whiteville, NC; granddaughter, Erin Sasser Lail (Phillip) of Wilmington, NC; and grandson, Ryan Harris Sasser of Elizabethtown.

Mrs. Hanna was known to decades of children at Elizabethtown Presbyterian church as ������Ƶ�Miss Dot������Ƶ�, where she played the piano for children������Ƶ�s Sunday school classes and the children������Ƶ�s choirs. To her immediate family, as well as her extended family at the Davis Community, she was affectionately known as ������Ƶ�D-Dot.������Ƶ�

The family would like to extend a huge thank you to the staff of Lightkeepers, at the Davis Community, for the exceptional care and love that Mrs. Hanna was given during the last years of her life.

A memorial to celebrate the life of Mrs. Hanna will be held at a later date.

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Margaree was born on May 19, 1930, the youngest of 12 siblings, to Martin and Beulah Sanders Grubbs.

Margaree attended school in Hilda and graduated as Valedictorian of her high school class. She was a graduate of North Greenville Junior College and received an Associate of Arts Degree and attended Coker College.

Margaree was a loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She was devoted to her Lord and Savior and her family and always exemplified her character of a true christian.

Survivors include a son, Steve Black, and a daughter, Angie Black Edwards.
Grandchildren, Stephanie (Michael) Lott, Justin Edwards and Conner Edwards. Great grandchildren, Michael Lott III, Lauren Lott, Steven Lott, Ashley Lott, Anna Lott and Scarlett Edwards.

Graveside services will be held on Sunday, June 6, 2021 at 3:00PM in the Reedy Branch Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive guests at Mole Funeral Home on Saturday evening from 5:00PM ������Ƶ� 7:00PM. Serving as pallbearers will be, Gerald Dempsey, Justin Edwards, Ron Grubbs, Winky Grubbs, Wayne Hutto, and Steven Lott

The family would like to thank Trinity Hospice for their care and compassion during this most difficult time.

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Her education included Sullins College in Bristol, VA, Coker College in Hartsville, SC and New School for Social Research in Manhattan, NY. She was co-founder of the Concept Shoe Co., Dallas, TX and partner in Conn Creek Winery, Napa, CA.

Doris moved to Memphis from Manhattan in 1996. In Manhattan, she was a member of the Metropolitan Opera Guild, Women’s National Republican Club and served as chairman of its Real Estate Committee and was a honorary member of board of trustees of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She was a faithful member of the Saint Thomas Episcopal Church. In Memphis, she was a member of Dixon Gallery and Gardens, Brooks Museum of Art, Decorative Arts Trust and former member of its board of directors and former member of the Memphis Woman’s Club.

In addition to her grace and charm, she was a captivating storyteller whose vast network of friends and extensive travels provided interesting and very amusing stories that kept us always wanting more. Doris had a smile that lit up the room. Besides traveling and entertaining, she loved to cook and read, especially the New York Times and The New Yorker. She will be greatly missed! Memorial service arrangements are pending. Memorials may be given in her memory to a .

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Margaret attended Coker College and graduated from Columbia College. In her early years, she taught school in North Charleston before moving back to Mullins. She spent many years working as a bookkeeper first in the Business Office at Mullins Hospital and later at Mullins Hardware, from where she eventually retired. She loved to cook and do needlework and was well-known for her many beautiful handmade creations. She had a quiet, sweet spirit and loved animals, adopting many of the ones that showed up at her home. She was an avid USC Gamecock fan and a member of Macedonia United Methodist Church.

In addition to her parents, Margaret was predeceased by her first husband, Dr. Daniel R. Pace, as well as her second husband, John S. Carter.

She is survived by her daughter, Era Pace Carmichael and her husband, Martin of Conway and a son, Daniel M. Pace of Myrtle Beach; a brother, Carl B. McMillan, Jr. of Lexington; two grandchildren, Sarah A. Carmichael of Conway and Benjamin T. Carmichael (Divya) of Charleston, and one great-grandchild, Olivia M. Myers.

A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 5, 2021at Cedardale Cemetery in Mullins with Reverend Kem Thomas officiating. The family will receive friends at the cemetery following the service. We respectfully request that you wear a mask and practice social distancing while in the cemetery.

If you would like to remember Margaret, the family suggests that memorials be made in her memory to the Macedonia United Methodist Church Men������Ƶ�s Group, 402 North Main Street, Mullins, South Carolina 29574, or to the Marion County Animal Shelter, 123 Dog and Cat Road, Mullins, South Carolina 29574 or to McLeod Hospice, 1203 East Cheves Street, Florence, South Carolina 29506.

The family would like to thank Margaret������Ƶ�s caregivers, Lillie Ceo, Karen Reaves, Lily Howard, Windy Ceo, and McLeod Hospice. Your caring heart, compassion, guidance, support and caregiving skills have been such a blessing to our mother and to us.

An online guestbook is available at .

Margaret is in the care of Meares Funeral Home of Mullins.

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My little 106 pound, 29 year old grandchild, Dr. Shannon Marrero, gave the commencement address. She earned a Master������Ƶ�s degree from Harvard and a medical degree from Brown University and was on the short list for the Nobel Peace Prize. All her many projects and commitments to making the world a better place could not have prepared me for the excellent speech she gave. Dr. Wyatt, the college president recognized me as a alumnae of the college during the ceremonies and how I poured into my children the love of learning and community pay back to the girl standing on the podium beside him.

The complete surprise was Shannon being awarded the Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters. All 3200+ people stood in respect as a white satin honor was placed around her neck at her shoulders.

This was my darling little girl who at the age of three told me ������Ƶ�if the big bad wolf ever asked her where I lived ������Ƶ� she would never tell.������Ƶ�

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