MYRTLE TOUCHBERRY CLEVELAND

COLUMBIA - Mrs. Lynwood Myrtle Touchberry Cleveland died Monday, Jan. 10, 2011.

Born Feb. 1, 1926, in Manning, she was the youngest child of the late Samuel Lee and Lynwood Gibson Touchberry. She grew up in the Pinewood and Rimini communities. She graduated from Pinewood High School and attended Winthrop College. She worked at the Bank of Lancaster until she met her husband. They resided in the Lancaster community for 13 years, subsequently moving to Columbia. She worked as a homemaker and retired from Lower Richland High School, where she was a media center assistant.

Mrs. Cleveland served actively in her church, Asbury Memorial United Methodist Church, for many years. She was a teacher in the weekday preschool program for several years; taught the Sunday school class for four-year-olds for 24 years; was a member of the Marshall Sunday school class; and was a member and officer of Circle Number Three of the United Methodist Women. She was named Asbury's United Methodist Woman of the Year. For many years, she was a regular volunteer with Meals on Wheels, delivering hot meals to the sick and needy. She especially enjoyed her Sunday school students, maintaining relationships with many of them into their adulthood.

In addition to her Christian service, Mrs. Cleveland enjoyed her work as a homemaker. She loved her family and was a friend to many. She enjoyed cooking and inviting her family and friends to share her lovingly prepared meals and desserts. She will be fondly remembered for her pound cakes and biscuits. She was an avid bridge player and enjoyed family vacations at the beach, especially Edisto Beach.

Mrs. Cleveland is survived by her husband, Robert Carl Cleveland of Columbia; her son, Robert Carl "Chuck" Cleveland Jr. and daughter-in-law, Joyce Whetstone Cleveland, of Orangeburg; her son, Roger Coy Cleveland of Charlotte, N.C.; her daughter, Esther Kay Cleveland of Clinton; a brother, Robert Walton Touchberry of Ely, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews, whom she loved and visited frequently.

She was predeceased by two brothers, Roger Miller Touchberry and Miles Dawson Touchberry; and four sisters, Esther T. Hough, Ruth Touchberry, Corine T. Scott and Hariet T. Mason.

Funeral services were held Friday, Jan. 14, 2011, in the sanctuary of Asbury Memorial United Methodist Church in Columbia with the Rev. Steve McCormick officiating.

Graveside services were held that same day at Evergreen Memorial Park in Sumter.

Memorials may be made to the weekday preschool program at Asbury Memorial United Methodist Church or to a charity of one's choice.

Online memorials may be left for the family at www.sumterfunerals.com.

Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad St., Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements, (803) 775-9386.