Mary M. Felder

Mary was the only child of Nannie J. and Otis McKinney, born on July 9, 1936, in Lancaster, South Carolina.  Mary prayerfully departed this life on Friday morning, September 29, 2023, at the Medical University of South Carolina in Orangeburg, South Carolina.

Mary, affectionately known as “Mae”, “Mae Frances”, and “Mama Mae” was raised by her loving maternal grandmother, Mama Goldie of South Side area of Lancaster.  Mary attended South Side Elementary and Barr Street High of Lancaster, South Carolina.  After high school, she moved to Washington, D.C. where she attended business school and trained to become an administrative assistant.  Upon completion of her course work, she moved back to Lancaster and was hired as a secretary at Barr Street High, her alma mater.  This is where the love story began.  Peter L. Felder, II of Columbia, South Carolina had accepted his first professional job as a choir and band director at Barr Street High School. They met, fell in love, and married in December of 1960.

Mary always had a thirst for knowledge.  In so doing, she matriculated into Allen University in 1964 -1967 with a major in Elementary Education. Mary taught 5th grade at J. J. Clinton Elementary School and  when schools integrated in 1970,  she taught one year at McDonald Green. By the summer of  1971, her husband, Pete, was hired by Claflin University in the Music Department. Mary joined him the next year.  She worked as a Special Collections Librarian at Claflin University after receiving her Master’s Degree in Library Science from Winthrop (College) University.  Additional studies were done at South Carolina State (College) University and the University of South Carolina.

Mary lived a full and productive personal and professional life.  From an elementary school teacher, collegiate special collections librarian, high school media specialist, and elementary school medial specialist to an after school program director for Williams Chapel A.M.E. church and Community Education Story Book Reader.

Mary was a life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., The Daughters of Isis, National Educators Association, The Stewardess Board #4, Seniors Ministries, and the Women’s Missionary Society of Williams Chapel AME Church.

Those left to cherish her fond and loving memory are her daughter and son-in-law Persephone Felder-Fentress (Royce)of Nashville, Tennessee and daughter, Patrice Felder-Douglas of Lancaster, South Carolina, five grandchildren- Robert L. Douglas, II (Orangeburg, SC), Nantambu-Akil Fentress (Nashville, TN), Amber Cheyenne Douglas (Lancaster), Kiambu-Afi Fentress (Nashville, TN), and Oniko Jamal McCarter (Lancaster),  great grandson, Egypt Kanyin Felder Williams, great granddaughter, Naviah Patrice Felder Douglas, two nieces, Darlene Holloman and Wilmette Holloman – Reid of Atlanta, Georgia, , and a host extended family members and friends.

Special thanks are extended to Dr. Brandi L. Wright, Beverly Parler-Rice, Eloise Floyd, Dr. Gussie Mathis, Lynette and Jonette Robinson, Betty Rush, Thilmore Lee and Robert Cunningham, Vernell Williams, Stephon and Ruby Edwards, Tawanda McHenry, Mr. and Mrs. Willie Jeffries and Family, The Northwoods Estates Homeowners Association and many more.

The service will proceed as follows:

The viewing will be held on Thursday, October 5,2023 at Glover's Funeral Home from 1:00pm-5:00pm.

The funeral will be held on Friday, October 6,2023 at Williams Chapel AME Church beginning at 12:00pm. All those attending service must wear a mask and adhere to all COVID-19 rules and regulations.

An Omega Omega service will be held on Thursday, October 5,2023 at Williams Chapel AME  beginning at 7:00pm.

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