Willa Mae Welch

WILLA MAE WELCH, age 78 passed away on Friday, December 1. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM Tuesday, December 5, 2017 at Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home with burial following at Florence Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 6 – 8 PM on Monday at Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home in Florence, SC.They will also receive friends at 2710 Barkley Ave, Florence. Mrs. Welch was born on January 6, 1939 in Lake City, SC.She was the daughter of the late Robert Doland and Addie Elizabeth Calder.She is also preceded in death by a brother, Robert Gerald Calder and a sister, Shelvia Jean Strickland. She is survived by her devoted husband of 60 years, Leverne S. Welch, Sr., a son, Leverne S. Welch, Jr., a daughter, Willa Nell “Susie” McLellan (Jimmy) of Florence, a grandson, James Michael McLellan (Sarah) of Columbia, a granddaughter, Amy Elizabeth Drummond (Lee) of Columbia, two great-grandchildren, Calvin Drummond and Janie McLellan, and a sister, Barbara McAlister of Lake City. Mrs. Welch was a faithful member of Bethel Baptist Church, Olanta, SC.She had a beautiful sacrificial love for her family.She found great joy in serving and spending time with them.She will forever be remembered as a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend.She had a heart that exuded generosity – always putting others before herself. The family would like to thank Agape Hospice for the excellent and loving care shown to her and her family during her illness. John 14:1-3“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you.I go to prepare a place for you.And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also.” “Your presence we miss.Your memory we treasure.Loving you always.Forgetting you never.”