Mrs. Marion Willis Shealy

Marion (Mandy) Willis Shealy, born as Marion Grace Willis, of Columbia, SC, died April 2, 2023, at the age of 97. Mandy was born June 30, 1925, in Greenville, SC, to the late Ethel “Gray” Willis and Sheriff Samuel Douthit Willis. Sheriff Willis was killed in the line of duty in 1927. Ms. Willis later married Mr. Kenneth Medlock, whom Marion “Mandy” adored until his death when she was 12 years old. At an early age, the family moved from Greenville, SC, to Goggins (Hapeville), GA, where Mandy attended school. The family later moved to Americus, GA. Mandy enjoyed playing basketball all four years of high school and lettered every year. She was also a cheerleader for the boys’ basketball team. Mandy was an avid swimmer and lived across the street from the neighborhood swimming pool which was managed by her mother. After graduating high school, Mandy and her sister, Julia, worked at the airfield in the control tower assigning planes to the pilots. She also took flying lessons during that time. She and Julia had a ball, and of course had their favorite pilots to whom they assigned planes first. Once, a pilot offered to take Mandy for a ride (which was strictly prohibited), but of course, she accepted the invitation, strapped in by one belt in a plane with no canopy and thoroughly enjoyed doing a roll. At 20, she joined the army (WAC), completed basic training in Des Moines, Iowa and was then assigned to Fort Belvoir, VA. She then signed up for “duration plus six” during WWII and later accepted an assignment to Heidelberg, Germany, where she served as Corporal in the supply unit in General Patton’s Third Army. After the war ended, she continued to work for the Army as a civilian for an additional five years. Mandy met and fell in love with Sergeant Kenneth James Hess; they married in Heidelberg. In 1955, Mandy gave birth to a daughter, Julia (Judy) Marie Hess. In the 1950’s, Rhogam shots were not available to mothers with RH negative blood. After having experienced three stillborn births related to RH negative blood, Mandy committed to donating plasma for decades to help other mothers forego the tragedy that she experienced. Mandy remarried in her 50’s to Marion R. Shealy, and the two lived happily together until his death 7 years later. While caring for him, her sister, Julia, became ill. Mandy moved Julia into her home and cared for her until her death. When asked by her daughter how she survived so much loss, Mandy replied, “Life is for the living.” After the death of Mandy’s beloved “Shealy,” she and a friend began a dog rescue organization that grew strong and large over the decades. The rescue organization became one of the largest in South Carolina. Always willing to serve, Mandy helped raise funds for many other animal rescue organizations. Mandy being “Mandy,” on her own, also rescued pigs, chickens, cats, displaced baby birds and even the occasion human. Mandy was active in her church where she loved running the toy and clothes closets and volunteering in the food pantry that was run by her beloved friend, Cathy Morris. Mandy’s home was the hub for friends and family. She had an open-door policy and would bend over backwards to help her family, her “chosen family,” and strangers with her hospitality and great home cooking. Mandy was an accountant. Along her professional journey, she met Mike Tighe, Attorney at Law, through business ventures. Their friendship was strong and lasted throughout her lifetime until the day she died. During Mandy’s lifetime, she endured many tragedies and had lots of adventures. At 87 years of age, she ziplined ten zips, two repels, and a rope bridge all in freezing rain. She was an avid card player, and anyone would be hard pressed to win a game against her (just ask David Lawson). She loved tubing on the river, attempted (but failed) unicycling, worked out in the gym with her best friend, Kay Gear, even into her 96th year of life. Mandy loved fishing and would fish from sunrise to sunset for years with her devoted husband, “Shealy,” at their cabin at Lake Wateree. She loved fresh fried bream, hot buttery grits and sliced tomatoes for breakfast on the porch at the cabin. Mandy loved sleeping on that porch listening to the night critters and hearing the fish jumping in the lake. Mandy had another passion, costume jewelry. She was an expert in dating unusual pieces and had a following who purchased her jewelry at local antique malls. She was invited by organizations to give presentations where she identified costume jewelry by name, date, and rarity. She always wore a pin or necklace from her collection wherever she went. Mandy was a kind, generous and selfless woman with a wicked, dry sense of humor that kept all privileged to witness it in hysterics until the day she died. She valued her relationships over all else. To know her was to love her. Mandy is survived by her daughter, Julia (Judy) Hess; her adopted son, David Lawson; her best friend, Kay Gear and husband, Harold; nephew, Kenneth Denny (Jane); nephew, Lee Mortimer (Karen); niece, Margaret Mortimer; niece, Julia Meyler (John); nephew, Allen Mortimer (Suzanne); niece, Kimberly Ferguson; niece, Gray Farnsworth; nephew, Bland Farnsworth (Cammie); cherished friends, Mike Tighe (Judy); Greg and Diane Mancini; Gerald and Barbara Davis; Pastor Ron Bryan; Cathy Morris; Kimberly and John Gagliardi; Benjamin von Cramon (Dawn); Rick Martin (Fleda); Gwen Powell; Christine Hancock; Barbara Hawkins (Tommy); Linda Bowen; Candace Thom; Maggie Matheson; Treasha Ellington; Vernice Jordan; and Robbie Asbury; and so many others; as well as her beloved dog, Honey. In addition to her parents, Mandy was predeceased by her sisters, Virginia Mortimer, Ethel Willis, Julia Farnsworth; and brother, Samuel Medlock. Mandy’s daughter would like to extend a heartfelt “Thank You” to the caregivers at Interim Hospice: Sandra Dobbs, RN; June Scruggs, MSW; Michelle Smith, CNA; Chaplain Tony Hipszer; and Volunteer Hope; for the loving care they provided to sweet Mandy. Mandy left this world for her Heavenly home while lying in the arms of her loving daughter, Judy, next to her adopted son, David, on the anniversary of her sister’s (Julia) birthday and Palm Sunday. The funeral service for Mrs. Shealy will be held at 3 o'clock, Thursday, April 27th, at Crescent Hill Baptist Church, 2659 Two Notch Road, Columbia. Burial will follow the service in Crescent Hill Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends prior to the service at the church beginning at 2 o'clock. For those who wish, Mrs. Shealy will be available for viewing from 9 until 5 o'clock on the Tuesday and Wednesday prior to the service at Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, 7600 Trenholm Road Ext., Columbia. In lieu of flowers, any donations would be appreciated to the animal sanctuary/rescue of your choice.

Tributes

Mrs. Marion Willis Shealy

June 30, 1925 - April 2, 2023