Mary Alice Morris Lockhart

Aiken - Mrs. Mary Alice Morris Lockhart, 91, passed away Friday, August 16, 2024.

 Mary Alice was born in Kemper, SC, daughter of the late Jerome and Florence Wilburn Morris, fifth child of a Baptist Preacher. When the depression came, the family moved to Aiken, SC where they purchased a family farm from Jerome’s brothers and sisters. Mary Alice’s mother Florence was from Union, S.C. and was the youngest of 12 children.

 Mary Alice attended school at China Springs School in Aiken in a 2-room schoolhouse. She had 3 grades in each room. She grew up on the farm where they were pretty much self-sufficient in feeding themselves from the land. She had fond memories from her farm experiences of which she often spoke; however she also remembered pining and dreaming of adventures outside of farm life.

 Eventually she did leave the farm to attend College at Milledgeville, GA, a state college for women, where she first majored in home economics. She worked for a summer there after her first year in college, where she assisted the prison warden & superintendent of farms & dairies for the hospitals.

 She then got a ride home to Augusta, GA, with a medical student who encouraged her to become a nurse. Not wanting to return to South Georgia for another semester of home economics, she enrolled at Barrett School of Nursing in Augusta GA, which she attended for 3 years. Upon graduation, she worked in Chicago for a post internship & studied surgery. Eventually, she came back to Augusta and was employed at the Medical College of GA - and that’s where she met her future husband, Malcolm or “Mac” Lockhart, a doctor, on a blind date. They married in August of 1956. Malcolm interned in Athens, GA where their first child, Lynne, was born in 1958.

 They moved to Washington DC for 2 years where Mac served in the Commission Corp of the Public Health Service - attached to the Coast Guard. In Washington, they had their second child, Ann. 

 They moved back to Atlanta in 1960 where Mac went into Private Practice. She and Mac had 2 more children in Atlanta–Jan and Matthew. During this time, she started painting and eventually opened her own art store, teaching classes and marketing art in her Decatur, GA shop.

 After losing her husband in December of 1970, she went back to work full time in the nursing field. She worked with the State of Georgia for a period of time, and then moved the family back to Aiken, SC. She then became a nurse clinician specializing in oncology (cancer). She also continued the enrichment of her education by attending and eventually graduating from the University of South Carolina at Aiken, where she received a BSN Degree.

 Throughout her career as a nurse, Mary Alice endeavored to change how cancer nursing was done at the patient level. Through great efforts, and with pioneering oncology doctors, she was one of the founders of the Jernigan Cancer Unit at University Hospital. Her efforts to teach systems to train nurses was so appreciated, she was voted Augusta University Hospital’s Employee of the Year in 1987. She helped counsel cancer patients and their families. 

 There is a book at University Hospital written by a cancer patient’s family called Herbie’s Story, and in that book, Mary Alice was known as the “Lady to Unlock the People’s Hearts,” She worked closely with Dr. Slayer, who was known in the book as “the Dragon Slayer.” 

 In 1995, she began further studying of painting techniques with Al Beyer at the University of South Carolina. Her endeavors to develop her painting skills eventually led her to become a renowned local Artist in Aiken and led to her winning many art competitions at both the local and state levels. She loved painting cows and vistas of the farm where she grew up; however she also sought out new mediums of art, including textures, oils, and acrylics in creation of both traditional and contemporary art pieces. 

 Mary Alice was a loving mother and always put her children first. She also loved being with her extended family, and grandchildren. She loved her brothers and sisters, and all of her family. When they preceded her in death, she missed them and talked of them lovingly. Now she is with them all, and with Jesus. Oh what a celebration! 

 She loved beautiful sunrises and sunsets, plus everything that the Lord put on the earth. She was always very positive. Just being around her with her beautiful smile and uplifting spirit would make anyone’s day better. 

 In her final two years, Mary Alice lived in Cumberland, an independent living center, where she met and befriended a number of wonderful people.. She was a good friend to many folks of all ages there.

 Mary Alice was an active Member at St. John’s Methodist church.

 She is survived by her daughters, Lynne Lemmons, Cleveland, TN, Jan (William) Delaigle, Aiken; her son, Matthew (Elizabeth) Lockhart, Atlanta, GA; preceded in death by grandson, Phillip Osbon, other grandchildren, still living, grandsons, Britain Wikerson Lockhart II and David Duke, and granddaughters, Ashley Duke, Alaina Hood, Shelley Templeton, Holly Ricketson, Catherine Byrd, and Anna Kate Lockhart; and a sister, Risa Newsome, Lincolnton, GA.

 She was preceded in death by her husband, Malcolm Dallas Lockhart; her daughter, Mary Ann Lockhart Duke; and five siblings.

 A Celebration of Life for Mary Alice will be held on October 13, 2024, 2:00 P.M., at St. John's Methodist Church.

 In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to The American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org)

 SHELLHOUSE FUNERAL HOME, INC., 924 HAYNE AVE., AIKEN, S.C.

 Mary Alice’s online guest book may be signed by visiting www.shellhousefuneralhome.com