Beatrice Mary Wright McKellar

Mrs. Beatrice Mary Wright McKellar (Betty) , 85, died Saturday, June 30, 2007, at her residence. She was born September 23, 1921 in Rome, Italy to the late Charles William and Helen Bree Dunstan Wright. She graduated from the Chatelard School, Les Avants, Switzerland, the Madeira School, Greenway, VA. and Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY. In 1944, while serving as a member of the Office of Strategic Services, in Washington, D.C, she met and married Robert B. McKellar, Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Naval Reserve, now deceased. In 1952, they moved from New Haven, Connecticut, to Aiken with their three children. Mrs. McKellar devoted her life to her faith and her family, and to the service of others by volunteering in many local and state-wide organizations. She organized the first Brownie Scout Troop in Aiken, served as a den mother for the Cub Scouts, and was a Red Cross swimming instructor. She also assisted in the establishment of The Thrift House in Aiken. In 1954, she served as the first Secretary of the Board on the newly formed Community Chest of Aiken. Mrs. McKellar became the first President of the St. Thaddeus Chapter of the Order of the Daughters of the King, then organized and was President of the Diocesan Assembly, then Provincial President, and served on the National Council of the Order for several years. She also served on the Provincial Board of the Episcopal Church Women, was the local President and served as Diocesan Vice-President and Worship Chairman of the Christian Social Relations Committee. Mrs. McKellar was also an associate member of the Order of the Convent of St. Helena in Augusta, GA. In 1960, Mrs. McKellar organized the Edgefield-Aiken Community Action Commission and served as a Board Member for several years during which time she was given the Commission’s Service Award for her efforts in the establishment of Aiken’s Head Start Program and the Neighborhood Youth Corps. She also served on the Aiken-Barnwell Counties Mental Health Center as a Board Member, and Camp Kanuga’s Board of Visitors for several years. In 1967, Mrs. McKellar organized the Aiken County Chapter of the Alston Wilkes Society, a service organization which provides services for offenders, the homeless, troubled youth, veterans, and their families, later becoming State President. In 1968, Mrs. McKellar organized and was President of Aiken’s Rally Support Vietnam Personnel (RSVP) inspiring the City of Aiken to adopt the 3rd Marine Division. She also served as the Chairman of the POW-MIA Committee of Aiken. The U.S. Marine Corps Recruiting Station awarded her an achievement award for outstanding service rendered in these endeavors. The City of Aiken also presented her with a Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Service to the Community. In the 1980’s, Mrs. McKellar served on the Board of Trustees of York Place, Episcopal Church Home for Children, and was Chairman of the Advanced Gifts Committee. She also was the Diocese of Upper South Carolina’s representative on the Executive Committee of the Christian Action Council and served on the Lutheran, Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Methodist Committee (LARCUM). Prior to her illness over the past several years, Mrs. McKellar enjoyed playing tennis with her dear friends, traveling, visiting with neighbors, and working in her flower garden. Survivors include her loving children, Beatrice Bree McKellar Saum, Aiken, Dr. Robert Wright McKellar and his wife Ann Thomas McKellar, Augusta, GA, Kenneth D. McKellar and his wife Barbara Johnson McKellar, Chapin, SC, and her sister-in-law Lucia McKellar Maloney, of Chappaqua, NY. Other survivors include her eight grandchildren: Mrs. Laura Saum Parraga and husband David, Stuart L. Saum, Tadd W. McKellar and wife Daniele, William T. McKellar, Elizabeth K. Alamor and husband Miguel, Mark M. Kesser and wife Jennifer, Lance Corporal MacKenzie R. J. McKellar, USMC, and Jamie G. Greer and her husband Alan, as well as seven great-grandchildren, several loving nieces and nephews, and three devoted caregivers, Deloris Ware, Audrey Hanna, and Patricia Barnett. Funeral Services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 5th, at St. Thaddeus Episcopal Church. The Rev. Ella Breckenridge will officiate. Pallbearers will be Mrs. McKellar’s grandsons. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends following the services at a reception in the church’s Stevenson-McClelland building. Memorials may be made to St. Thaddeus Episcopal Church, 221 Pendleton St., Aiken, SC 29801, the Alston Wilkes Society, 3519 Medical Drive, Columbia, SC 29203, or to York Place, Episcopal Church Home for Children, 234 Kings Mountain St., York, SC 29745. Please visit Mrs. McKellar’s online memorial at shellhousefuneralhome.com. Shellhouse Funeral Home, Inc., 924 Hayne Avenue, Aiken, SC. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Beatrice Mary Wright McKellar, please visit our flower store.