Sarah Frances McRae

Sarah Frances McDonald McRae age 99 of Florence, SC formerly of Chesterfield, SC entered her Heavenly Home April 13, 2018. Born April 25, 1918 in Hartsville, SC the first child of L. John and Mary Bethune McCaskill McDonald. She was baptized in First Presbyterian Church of Hartsville. She graduated from Hartsville High School in 1935 and from Limestone College in 1939. In September of that year she became a member of the faculty in the Chesterfield School System. She was dedicated to her students and taught 3 years before her marriage and taught for 28 additional years beginning in 1952.

Frances married James Alexander McRae in 1942 and they had been happily married 25 years when James died in 1968. Their only child Mary Kendall was born in 1946. When Frances married she transferred her church membership to Chesterfield Presbyterian Church where she has remained a lifelong member of the Presbyterian Church USA. She served as Deacon, Elder, active in all work of the Presbyterian Women, Sunday school and Vacation Bible School teacher, and a member of New Harmony Presbytery Committees.

Frances was active in the civic and social life of Chesterfield until she moved to the Presbyterian Community of Florence in 2006. She was a member of one of the bridge clubs in Chesterfield for 64 years.

She is survived by her loving daughter, Mary Kendall McRae Bittle and her husband John Wesley Bittle, Jr. of Conway, SC, her sister, Isabel McDonald Rollins of Greensboro, NC, her sister-in-law, Mary Jane Ketchin McDonald of Presbyterian Community of Florence, SC her sister-in-law, Flora Nelle McRae Johnson of McFarlan, NC. Other survivors are a number of nieces and nephews through to great-great-great nieces and nephews whom she loved very much.

Frances was predeceased by her devoted husband James, and by her brothers, Harry McCaskill McDonald in 2009, and John Neil McDonald, Sr. in 2010 of Hartsville.

Her funeral service will be at 11:00 AM Monday, April 16, 2018 at Chesterfield Presbyterian Church with interment to follow at Chesterfield Cemetery. Mary Kendall and John Bittle will have a reception for all family and friends in the fellowship hall of Chesterfield Presbyterian Church immediately after the burial.

Should one wish to remember Frances with a memorial gift, it may be made to Chesterfield Presbyterian Church, 209 W. Main Street, Chesterfield, SC 29709, Chesterfield Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 388, Chesterfield, SC 29709, or to the Presbyterian Community of Florence, 2350 W. Lucas Street, Florence, SC 29501.

Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home (www.mrcfuneralhome.com) of Chesterfield, SC is serving the McRae family.