Mary Martha Hines McMackin, 97, of Clover, SC, passed away Saturday, February 1, at home surrounded by her loved ones. 

The family will receive friends 6:00 – 8:00 Monday night at M. L. Ford & Sons Funeral Home, 209 N. Main Street, Clover, SC. Funeral service will be 2 p.m., Tuesday, February 4, 2020, at Oakdale Presbyterian Church, 12585 Hwy. 55 West, Clover, SC with the Rev. Matt Horne officiating.

Born October 24, 1922, at home in Bethany (Clover), SC, to the late Alda Crawford Hines and Walter (Pat) Hines.  Mary married the love of her life, James Lawson McMackin, on July 26, 1941.  Together they raised three children, operated Mac's Service Station, and had a beef cattle farm.

In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by her son James (Jimmy) McMackin Jr., sisters Evelyn (Sis) Bumgardner, Jean Barnes, Patty Ann Hines, Hazel McMackin, and brothers Clarence Hunter Hines, Sam Hines, and Bob Hines.

She is survived by her sister Irene Mosier and brother-in-law Bill, brother Neil Hines, and brother Dale Hines and sister-in-law Carolyn.  The "Brothers and Sisters" were close and gathered often for oyster stew and card games.

Mary graduated from Bethany school (when it only had 11 grades), where she played basketball and was a voracious reader (traits she passed along to her family).  A member of Bethany A.R.P. church in her youth, she later became a charter member of Oakdale Presbyterian Church.  Each Sunday she sat in her favorite pew, second from the back on the right side, along with family members.

Food was a large part of her life and her hospitality was limitless.  As the chief cook at Mac's Service Station, known by many simply as B.I.'s, she kept the Bethany community fed for decades with cast iron cooked hamburgers, bologna, and egg sandwiches.  Holidays and family gatherings always included her green beans and homemade biscuits.  However, her chicken and dumplings, salmon patties, and vegetable soup were the most often requested.  She had an insatiable sweet tooth and made sure there was always "something sweet" on hand.  Family favorites were her pound cake and banana pudding.  

Mary was known for her green thumb, which she said she inherited from her mother, and had an amazing garden every year.  She could revive half-dead house plants and grow tomatoes, peppers, and okra in any soil.  And while stray cats consistently found their way to her, her favorites were always the small, cuddly dogs to whom she could feed biscuits. 

Proudly displayed in her kitchen are 78 souvenir spoons from her travels across the United States and Canada with her sister, nieces, and assorted friends.   Refrigerator magnets from Lake Tahoe, Colonial Williamsburg, Sedona, and Mount St. Helens are alongside dozens of photos of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

As the family matriarch, she will be greatly missed by daughter Linda Petty and son-in-law Larry, son Kenny and daughter-in-law Patricia, and daughter-in-law Pam. 

She was a role model and an amazing grandmother to DeeAnna Brooks and Mike Kropp, Jamie McMackin and Barbie, Allison Harvey, Neil McMackin, David McMackin, John Eric McMackin, Kyle McMackin and Madison, and adopted grandson, Mike Terry.

Her great-grandchildren, Michael Kropp, Jr., Nick Kropp, Rachel Fetty and Wesley, Logan Aughtry, Maggie Harvey, Austin McMackin, Joanna McMackin, Jackson McMackin, Declan McMackin, Skylar McMackin, Scott Jackson, and Brandon McMackin will always remember her unwavering support and devotion to them. 

And her great-great grandchildren, Rhylan McMackin, Ryley Fetty, and Grayson Fetty will miss her love and warm smile.

The family would like to thank Arnetta Cooke for her loving care and companionship during Mawmaw's illness. 

Memorials can be made to Oakdale Presbyterian Church, 12585 Hwy. 55 West, Clover, SC; Moped 2 Memphis, 1625 Hwy. 55 East, Clover, SC; or to the charity of your choice.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.