Kitty Mescher

Sallie Kate “Kitty” Stanley Mescher, 84, died March 31, 2018 in Horry County, SC. She was born June 23, 1933 in Kingstree, SC to parents George A. Stanley and Mary W. Elks. She graduated from Winthrop College in 1955 and later received a masters in Education from University of South Carolina. Kitty married her high school sweetheart, Reed Clifton Tanner Jr., and they resided in Georgetown, S.C. where she was a teacher. After RC’s death, she later married William C. “Bill” Mescher and the two moved to Pinopolis, S.C. where they lived for the remainder of their lives.

Kitty committed her life to education and service. She served as president for the Berkeley Citizens Board, and chairwoman of the S.C. Board of Disabilities and Special Needs. She was a leader of the Palmetto Cabinet, Bono Circle of Moncks Corner United Methodist Church, Berkeley County Republican Party, Berkeley County Historical Society, and the Francis Marion Trail Commission. She was a founder of the Francis Marion Brigade Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and championed many local efforts to celebrate the heroics of Francis Marion in the American Revolutionary War. She was well loved by all for her kindness, leadership, love for South Carolina, and her magical ability to charm everyone she ever met. Many knew her as a strong southern matriarch, fiercely loving and loyal to her family and lifelong friends.

Kitty is survived by her son Reed C. Tanner III, daughter Mary Kate “Kathy” Johnson, daughter Karen, grandchildren Rob Johnson, Kit Hinkle her husband Nathan Hinkle, step-grandson Walker Dear, and special friends of the family Phil Macaione and Evette Lampkin. Kitty was preceded in death by her siblings George A. Stanley, John B. Stanley, Mary S. Burroughs, Rose S. McClary. She is survived by a sister, Jessie S. Dubard and her husband Fred Dubard, brother-in-law Robert V. Tanner and his wife Maxine J. Tanner, sister-in-laws Elizabeth T. Clarke and Lynne P. Tanner, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Her funeral service will be at Moncks Corner United Methodist Church on Tuesday afternoon April 3 at 2 o’clock directed by Russell Funeral Chapel. Family will receive friends starting at 12 noon until the hour of service. Interment will follow at Garden of Devotion Cemetery in Hemingway, SC at 4:30pm.

Memorials in Kitty’s honor are welcomed at:

General Marion’s Brigade

National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution

C/O Henrietta Acton, Chapter Treasurer

116 Walnut Way

Pineville, SC 29468

Moncks Corner United Methodist Church

106 Church Street

Moncks Corner, SC 29461