Mrs. Mary Lou Nolan

Mary Lou Marcum Nolan, “Lou,” 86, of Columbia, SC, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 1, 2023. Born in Kirk, WV, on February 1, 1937, to the late Lonzo and Gladys Marcum. Lou grew up in Dingess, surrounded by a large, loving family with many aunts, uncles, and cousins with whom she shared many fond memories. She was a 1954 graduate of Lenore High School. Among other things too numerous to mention, some highlights of her professional career include instrument rated pilot, CEO of Atlantis Airlines, a fixed-base operator, and real estate broker. She was Chair of the Richland County Republican Party and member of the Greater Columbia Community Relations Council. Lou served as the President of Five Points Rotary Club in Columbia from 2009 to 2012, and she also served as the Assistant Governor of the State Rotary Club. She was named a Paul Harris Fellow multiple times by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. She was also named by the American Heart Association as a Red Dress Ambassador. Lou began her professional career in Commercial Real Estate and was involved in the development of several buildings, including Middleburg Condominiums and Middleburg Office Complex in Columbia. Her extensive involvement in politics has included service as Chair and Executive Committeeman of the Richland County Republican Party, an alternate delegate at the 2008 National Republican Convention, and a member of the Capital City Republican Women's Club and South Carolina Federation of Republican Women. In 2015, Lou was a South Carolina Delegate to the Republican National Convention held in Cleveland, OH. She led Richland County's successful efforts to raise the county's fair share of the Milliken Challenge, and she initiated the Ivory Banquet as a fundraiser to kick-off the party conventions. In 2013 a resolution by the South Carolina Senate was presented to Lou in recognition and honor for her years of outstanding service to the Republican Party. Lou was appointed by Governor Mark Sanford as Museum Commissioner in the state of South Carolina, and she served as a docent at the Columbia Museum of Art. After her distinguished career, Lou received a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina in Art History in 2004. In addition to her parents, Lou is preceded in death by her cherished siblings, Ollie Dent, Bernice Powell, and Denzil L. Marcum; and a very special nephew, Mark Crawford. She is survived by her loving and devoted husband, Patrick Nolan. The love and dedication they had for each other was truly one of a kind. Having no natural children of her own, Lou became a surrogate mother to her nieces, Heather (Brent) Robinson and Lou (Jared) Potter, after the sudden death of her sister-in-law, Kaye Davis Marcum, in 1992. She is also survived by nephews, Tom Dent, Vic (Linda) Dent, Ben Dent, and Daniel (Crystal) Marcum. Also surviving Lou are nieces, Lonella (Joseph) Harding, Karen (Jeff) Spade, and Kim (Bob) Stagg. Additionally, she leaves behind a host of extended family and friends. There will be two celebrations of life. The first celebration will be on Saturday, October 7, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. (family to call at 11:00 a.m.) at Evans Funeral Home at 334 Crawley Creek Road, Chapmanville, WV 25508 with interment following at Nelson Family Cemetery in Dingess, WV. The second celebration will be on Saturday, October 21, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. at Shives Funeral Home at 7600 Trenholm Road, Columbia, SC 29223. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Lou’s honor to the American Heart Association at 7272 Greenville Avenue Dallas, TX 75231. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Evans Funeral Home & Cremation Services at Chapmanville, WV, in cooperation with Shives Funeral Home at Columbia, SC.

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Mrs. Mary Lou Nolan

February 1, 1937 - October 1, 2023