Mary Beth Harllee

Mary Beth Harllee, 72, beloved friend, social worker, professor, and community activist, tragically left this world in the early morning hours of December 11, 2018 in a house fire. To know Mary Beth was simply to love her. She simply had a heart of gold and loved and cherished everyone she met and came in contact with. Mary Beth was born on April 20, 1946 and was a native of Statesville, North Carolina. In 1966, she married the love of her life, Thomas (Tom) Harllee. The couple lived in North Carolina before moving to the Lynchburg area of South Carolina. She was predeceased by her parents, her beloved husband, and her dog Michael. She is survived by her very special friend who was like a son to her, Brad Richardson of Florence, South Carolina.Also, left to cherish her memories are her neighbors, who was always there for her in the Garden Hills Community, as well as her very dear friends, Heidi Fields of Florence, South Carolina, Gary Hartly of Fort Pierce, Florida, and her countless colleaguesand students. Mary Beth was a pioneer in the movement of Sociology and Social work in the Pee Dee.Her career in and outside the classroom has spanned over 40 years touching the lives of young women and men across our region.Mary Beth began her career spending ten years as the department head of CareSouth Health System’s South Carolina Alzheimer’s Program. Mary Beth received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Catawba College. She went on to receive her Master’s in Guidance and Counseling from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte as well as a Master’s in Social Work from the University of South Carolina. Mary Beth had a career span of over two decades as Associate Professor of Social Work and Licensed Master Social Worker at Limestone College.Mary Beth was very instrumental in the success and the building of the Limestone Campus located in Florence, South Carolina.At her retirement from Limestone College she was granted the status of Associate Professor Emerita of Social Work by the Board of Trustees. Mary Beth knew very quickly that retirement was simply not for her. She joined the staff of Williamsburg Technical College in Kingstree, South Carolina. She began teaching as adjunct instructor of sociology in 2015 and has taught day and evening classes each semester since. She taught sociology to Dual Enrollment students at Hemingway High School along with courses on the college's campus in Kingstree. She was continuously following her compassion up to her death as being an instructor inside the classroom. Mary Beth’s gift of non traditional teaching and her compassion has impacted to many of her students through out the span of 40 years. Mary Beth was also involved in many other capacities throughout the community. She served as part of the Event Staff Team at the Florence Center and was also employed with Liberty Tax Service. Her second love from outside the classroom was her involvement with the Cherry Hill Photography Programs. She was currently in her 19th year with the company, spending all of her nineteen years at the Magnolia Mall in Florence South Carolina. She currently was the greeter for the local Santa Team and loved, without question, playing the role of Mrs. Clause. A celebration of life will take place on Wednesday December 19, 2018 at 3:00 pm in the chapel of Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home located at 2402 South Irby Street, Florence, South Carolina. A visitation of friends will take place prior to the service from 1:30 until 3:00. Burial will follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home 2402 South Irby Street, Florence, South Carolina 29505.