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Laura Virginia Whitlark Hutchens
1913-2006
Laura Virginia Whitlark Hutchens, 92, widow of
Oliver Franklin Hutchens, died Tuesday, July 4, 2006 at the
Tuomey Regional Medical Center.
Born in Kansas City,
Missouri, she was a daughter of the late Henry Benson Whitlark
and the late Edith Laura Winslow Whitlark.
Mrs.
Hutchens was a member of First Presbyterian Church where she
was a former deacon and elder. She was the
recipient of an Honorary Life Membership in the Women of the
Church, and had served on the Transitional Team when the North
and South Presbyteries merged. She had served on
many boards of the Presbytery, and had been Moderator of the
Presbyterian Women. She was also a long-time member
of the International Missions
Committee.
She graduated Phi Beta Kappa
from the University of Missouri. She was a former
interpreter for the United Nations in Cuba, was a retired
Civil Service Documentation Manager with Shaw Air Force Base,
and also a former teacher at Central Carolina Technical
College. She was a volunteer with Tuomey
Hospice.
Surviving are two sons, Robert
Oliver Hutchens and wife Margaret of Sumter, Thomas Pinckney
Hutchens and wife Katie of Bismarck, North Dakota; a daughter,
Mary Hutchens Syiek and husband, Joseph of Huntington Beach,
California; six grandchildren, Laura Hutchens Baker and
husband Gene, Thomas Dandridge Hutchens, Virginia Katherine
Hutchens, Evelyn Elizabeth Hutchens, Joanna Whitlark Syiek,
and Alexander Franklin Syiek. She was looking
forward to the birth of her first great-grandchild in
September.
She was preceded in death by a
daughter, Laura Ann Hutchens.
Funeral services will be
held at 3 P.M. Saturday in the Chapel of the Elmore Hill
McCreight Funeral Home with the Rev. Dr. Mark Durrett
officiating.
The family will receive friends from 2 to
3 P.M. Saturday at the Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church
International Missions Fund, 9 West Calhoun Street, Sumter, SC
29150 or to Tuomey Hospice, 115 N. Sumter Street, Suite 410,
Sumter, SC 29150.
On-line condolences may be sent to
www.sumterfunerals.com.
Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral
Home and Crematory, 221 Broad Street, Sumter is in charge of
the arrangements. |
Dear Robert, Hutch, Mary &
family,
Please know that I am thinking of you all at
this time & for the days to come following Laura's
passing. She was a wonderful loving lady, mother,
friend and was always so very kind to me. I remember her
fondly with love & that will never change. For
many years we corresponded, but I had not heard from her
during the last several years & didn't know if she had
moved. I know that she is dwelling in a
most wonderful place now. I rejoice that I had the
pleasure to know her as well as your dad. May God
continue to surround you all with his loving
presence.
With love,
Lee
-- Lee T. Colhoun |
I am a friend and colleage of Mary Syiek. Although
I never met her mom, just by knowing Mary I can tell what an
extraordinary tresure Ms. Hutchens was. I send my heartfelt
sympathy to Mary and her family. Sincerely, Karen
Barrie
-- Karen Barrie |
Robert, Thomas & Mary
I was deeply
saddened to hear of your mother's passing and am further
saddened that I never had the pleasure of meeting
her. My late sister Christine (Steenie) had a
wonderful relationship with her though, and often spoke of
Aunt Laura and what a wonderful person she was.
Please
know that my thoughts and prayers are for Aunt
Laura.
Henry
-- Henry Benson Whitlark
|
To the Family, My Aunt Laura was one of the most
wonderfully, loving and encouraging people I've ever had the
pleasure of knowing.She was always intriguing to spend time
with. I know from death of my own parents that you will not
remember much of what anyone says, but yoju will remember who
was there. Many well meaning people will say things wishing to
help in this time of hurt; like: "Don't worry, you'll get over
this." But I say...You should NOT ever get over the loss of
someone with whom a life time of love was invested. You will
learn to cope and go on with the knowledge mentioned in
Hebrews 12:1; that she IS still watching you and waiting and
that we will join her again. I hope that I can work it out
to come; I am presently trying to work out auto repair needs
and scheduling so that I can be there for the funeral this
weekend. If it does not work out; you have my love, empathy,
and prayers. Kevin Reavis 4th son of Paul Reavis &
Lois Hutchens Reavis Durham, NC
-- Kevin Reavis |
HUTCH, SORRY ABOUT THE PASSING OF YOUR MOTHER. I
AM GOING TO TRY TO COME TO THE SERVICE TOMORROW. I KNOW
THAT I HAVE NOT SEEN OR TALKED TO YOU IN 27 YEARS AND WOULD
LIKE TO SEE YOU.
DONNIE JOHNSON(GREENVILLE,
S.C.)
-- DONNIE JOHNSON |
It is hard to find the proper words to express our
deep sorrow in the loss of such a great woman and our dear
friend. Our hearts hurt for the families and loved ones of our
“Mom” Laura. As part of her extended family, we had the good
fortune, honor and privilege to have spent many quality times
with her over the past 20 years during which we shared a good
many vacations, stories, laughs and toasts. She was truly an
incredible lady. We could feel the power of her amazing life
in her laughter, humor, love and appreciation for life. We
will continue to toast her with a glass of Champagne. We know
that her soul now safely rests in the hands of God. We will
deeply miss her.
With our loving thoughts and
prayers,
Linda & Kevin
-- Linda & Kevin Williams
|
Robert, Hutch and Mary -
We are the luckiest
people on earth to have known your incredible mother for so
many years. She was smart and fiesty and warm and
funny and wise and so very loving. We will always cherish and
remember the many precious and happy times we spent with Laura
and the entire Hutchens family. We are wrapping
our arms around every single one of today since we
are not there with you.
With love and our
deepest sympathies to the entire Hutchens family,
Kenn,
Jett, Monika and Nikki Stansbury
-- Jett and Kenn Stansbury
|
To the entire Hutchens family my deepest
sympathies. I am a nephew, son of the late Gordon Whitlark of
Columbia, S.C. brother to your mother. I am the youngest of 13
children and was very close to Steenie who stayed in constant
touch with our Aunt Laura. You may be aware that we
lost Steenie back in February. Sadly, the only time I met Aunt
Laura was at my Father's funeral back in 1989. I wish I could
have met her again.
Again from my family here in
Atlanta, my wife, Lisa, children ,Erin, Forrest, Kate, Mary
Grace, Anna Elizabeth and Liam Whitlark our deepest sympathies
and prayers are with you. Maybe one day some of us will
meet.
God Bless
Kevin Whitlark
-- Kevin M. Whitlark |
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