Mary Elizabeth McLaughlin

Mary Elizabeth “Betty” McLaughlin, 74, of Florence, SC passed away June 20, 2025.

She was the daughter of the late James McLaughlin and Wille Mae Lee McLaughlin.

Betty had a deep love for flowers and gardening, and each year she lovingly maintained a vibrant flower garden at Braddock Glen Assisted Living. Her garden became a highlight for the community—bringing joy to residents and often featured during facility tours. With her sharp wit and great sense of humor, Betty kept her friends and family smiling.

She cherished her annual beach trips with her sister, Sheilah—getaways that created a lifetime of treasured memories. Betty also loved to cook and delighted in sharing meals and time with her family. She was generous with her time, always eager to care for others, and she especially adored her two dogs, Max and Rocky. Thankfully, she never had to choose between her dogs and her children—because the dogs might have won.

In recent years, Betty embraced a new spiritual chapter by converting to Catholicism, guided and supported by her dear friend Rita. She took great pride in that journey. Another source of pride was her early retirement at age 52, giving her 22 years to truly enjoy life on her terms.

Betty found joy in life’s little pleasures: watching tv shows and movies on her iPad, following her favorite “judge shows” on TV, and diving into her beloved tabloid magazines. Crossword puzzles could keep her busy for hours.

Above all, Betty was a wonderful friend. She held a special place in her heart for her lifelong friends Debra Blake and Rita McQueeney—people she spoke of fondly until the very end. Jason and Leigh would like to personally thank them for bringing so much joy to their mom’s life.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her sister, Sheilah McLaughlin.

Surviving are her son, James “Jason” (Tracie) Eckenstein in Columbia, SC; daughter, Angela “Leigh” Eckenstein (Christopher) Harte in Annandale, VA; grandchildren, Baxley Grace Clover, James Jason Eckenstein Jr. “Jim”, and Helena Elizabeth Harte; sisters, Annetta Hammond and Linda Johnson.

A graveside service will be at Mount Hope Cemetery Sunday, June 29, 2025 at 2:00 PM.