Mary Charleen Manning Pendergrass, 76, of Clover, SC, went home to The Lord on Sunday, November 24, surrounded by her family and laughter, which is exactly how she wanted it. 

After meeting her Jesus, she was greeted by those who went before her, including her parents, Fulton Manning and Stella May Mullinax Manning, sister Ruth Hess, and brothers Vernard Manning and Carnell Manning, as well as many other family and friends she held dear.  Most excited to see her will be her daughter’s cat George, who MawMaw professed to hate, yet insisted on tucking him into his spot on the sofa each night for bed. She wasn’t fooling anyone, they adored each other. 

Left to cherish her memory are her husband of 57 years, James, her three daughters, Dana Hester (Jeff) of Lake Wylie, also called “The Boss” by Mama in later years because she was the only one who could deal with her stubborn streaks, Wanda Patterson (Steve Murray) of York, who would be referred to as “the good one,” and her youngest daughter Vickie Harrington (Clint) of Gaffney, who, for the past two years, was known as “the woman with all those kids.”

In addition, MawMaw (as she was affectionately known) leaves behind ten grandchildren: Lisa Larkin, Robin Bunner (Nick), Brian Patterson (Kristen), Adam Patterson, Jessie McSwain (Will), Andruw Means (Karlie), Savannah Means (Blake Lattimer), Luke Harrington, Mary Pat Harrington, and Anna Harrington. Two great-grandchildren, Aydan Smith and Aliyanah Smith.  She also leaves a sister, Virginia Starnes (Zeb) of Smyrna. Too numerous to name are the nieces, nephews, and those who she loved as her own.

Charleen worked at Bethel Elementary school in Kindergarten for many years, as well as being a bus driver.  It is impossible to say how many children she impacted over the years, but her children and grandchildren still have people approach them to ask about “Mrs Pendergrass.”  Once leaving education Charleen shifted into being a full time “MawMaw.” Nothing brought her greater joy than her grandchildren.  Each morning she would load her Chevy Astro van up with grandchildren and run her “route” to drop everyone off at their respective schools, then repeat the whole process in the afternoon to pick everyone up and bring to her house.  Years later with the second wave of grandchildren she would repeat the process, but by then she had downsized to a Chevy Lumina.  It was not all fun and games with MawMaw however, as she also had a wooden paddle with each grandchild’s name written on it, which would be used to threaten swift judgement in the event of any misbehavior. Years later the grandchildren would hold a discussion and discover that not a single one of them were actually ever on the receiving end of MawMaw’s paddle, yet it hangs in her house still.  In addition to her own grandchildren, there were several other children that she had a huge part in raising and caring for, and she loved each of them as her own.

The only thing Charleen loved more than her family was her Lord and Savior.  She was a charter member of Pine Grove Baptist church in Lake Wylie and spent more than 30 years of dedicated membership and service to Bethel Baptist Church in Lake Wylie. During her many years of service she ran the kitchen for Vacation Bible School more than times than anyone can count, served as Sunday School director, WMU director, nursery coordinator, choir member, and served on various committees.  Charleen was a prayer warrior, “I’ll pray for you” was not an empty saying for her.  She prayed daily for her family, friends, and church. She also believed in being the hands and feet of Christ.  Whenever she saw a need, she sought to meet that need.  She strove to live her life so that others could see Jesus in her.  She loved, accepted, and forgave everyone, just as Jesus instructs us to.  We could not have asked for a better role model.

While we, her family, could write books singing the praises of our mother, we will close with these thoughts.  Whether you knew her as Mary, Charleen, Mrs. Pendergrass, (or for us very lucky ones) MawMaw, or Mama, to know her was to love and be loved by her.  She sacrificed so much for her family but never complained.  Nothing made her happier than to see that her daughters were happy and successful (“I’ve got two nurses and a teacher” she loved to say) unless it was her grandchildren.  Her greatest desire was for all of us love and serve The Lord, and to be happy and successful.

“Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” Proverbs 31:29

Funeral service will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday, November 30, 2024 at M. L. Ford & Sons Funeral Home, 209 N. Main St., Clover, SC with the Rev. Scottie Stewart officiating.  Interment will be in Lakeview Memory Gardens, York, SC.  The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday at M. L. Ford & Sons and other times at the home.

The family would like to extend their appreciation and gratitude to the staff at Brookview Healthcare of Gaffney and Agape Hospice for the care and kindness shown to “Mrs. Mary.”  Words cannot adequately convey our appreciation.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 4600 Park Road, Suite 250, Charlotte, NC 28209 www.alz.org/northcarolina. 

M. L. Ford & Sons Funeral Home, Clover, SC is serving the family of Mrs. Pendergrass.

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