Mary Lou Wicker Cameron

Mary Lou Wicker Cameron, of Prosperity, widow of C.A. Cameron, passed away on Sunday, November 26, 2023, at Generations of Chapin.

Born on April 7, 1922, in Pomaria, she was a daughter of the late John Albert and Nettie Amelia Murphy Wicker.

Mrs. Cameron graduated with honors from Newberry College and immediately began working in the office of the Adjutant General of South Carolina. She was secretary to three Adjutants General – Major General James C. Dozier, Major General Frank D. Pinckney and Major General Robert L. McCrady, and after 35 years of service retired as Supervisor of the Budget and Finance Section. In 1973 she was the first woman to receive the S.C. National Guard Meritorious Service Medal – awarded for 30 years of dedicated service to the Adjutant General's office and the National Guard. Upon retirement she was awarded a second Meritorious Service Medal, with Oak Leaf Cluster, for contributing immensley to the efficiency and readiness posture of the S.C. National Guard. She was made an honorary member of the Hq 218^th Inf. Brigade, Newberry by that unit.

After retiring she married “C.A.” Chester Cameron, and while living outside of Washing, DC, worked as a secretary in the Department of Agriculture and Resource Economics at the University of Maryland for five years. When her husband retired they returned to South Carolina to his family home near Pomaria.

She was a charter member of the S.C. State Employees Association and represented the Adjutant General's Department on the State Board of Directors for many years. In 1971 she was selected the Outstanding State Employee, and in 1998 named the Outstanding Retiree for the Newberry County Unit of the association.

She joined the Palmetto Chapter of the National Secretaries Association in 1958 and was actively involved until her retirement. She served as Treasurer, then President of the Palmetto Chapter for two terms each; as Vice-President and President of the S.C. Division, one term each. In 1964 she was selected as Secretary of the Year of Palmetto Chapter, then of then of the Carolinas Division. In 1977 she successfully completed the CPS exam and thus attained the rating of Certified Professional Secretary.

Mrs. Cameron was a dedicated worked for the American Cancer Society for many years following the death of her teenage niece, Mary Kay Young, and served on the Board of Directors of the Richland County Unit.

She was a lifelong member of St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Pomaria and had served as a Sunday School Teacher, President of the WELCA, member of the Church Council, Church Treasurer and pianist/organist for 25 years.

Mrs. Cameron was very devoted to her family and was always there when anyone needed her. She enjoyed fishing, gardening, sewing and cooking. Her great and great-great nieces and nephews were a source of great joy to her. They considered her a second grandmother and affectionately called her “Lou”.

She is survived by a nephew, John H. (Jane) Young of Greenville; a niece, Elizabeth Y. (Mark) Christmus of Pomaria; great nephews and nieces, Josh (Cherrise) Young, Nathan (Jill) Christmus, Katie Y. (Greg) Koch and Sarah C. (William) Pollard and great-great nephews and nieces, Jack Koch, Thomas Christmus, Anna Christmus, Kate Christmus, Evelyn Pollard and Amelia Koch.

She was predeceased by a sister, Ermie Y. Saine and a niece, Mary Kay Young.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm Wednesday, December 6, 2023, at St. Matthews Lutheran Church. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Matthews Lutheran Church, PO Box 170, Pomaria, SC 29126.