Mary Suitt

Mary Ellen Suitt passed away on January 19, 2013, at Summit Hills. Miss Suitt was born June 27, 1918, in Greenville, SC to Benjamin Green Suitt and Mary Warwick Suitt. The family moved to Spartanburg in 1920 and she lived in Spartanburg the rest of her life. She graduated from Spartanburg High School and Stratford Junior College in Danville, VA. She then graduated from Ringling School of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida. She worked as a cartographer for the U. S. Soil Conservation Service in Spartanburg for 31 years. During World War II she drew maps for the U. S. Army Map Service. The detailed maps of Europe and Japan that she helped to produce were crucial to the U. S. and allied troop efforts. Mary Ellen had a lifelong love of art and was a prolific painter for most of her life. She was a founding member and former president of the Artists' Guild of Spartanburg. She was a member with excellence of the South Carolina Water Color Society. Her work was juried into numerous exhibits in Spartanburg and across the state for many years. The art gallery at Spartanburg Methodist College was named in her honor in 2007. A retrospective show of her life's work is currently hanging at the Chapman Cultural Center. She traveled throughout the world and studied with well-known artists across the United States. Mary Ellen is survived by her sister, Sarah Suitt Miller of Spartanburg; brother, Thomas Howard Suitt and his wife Hilda of Greenville; nieces, Mary Ruth Handy (husband Chuck) of Charlotte, Nancy Suitt Bennett (husband Lee) of Atlanta; nephews, Thomas Howard Suitt, Jr. of Atlanta, Michael Benjamin Miller (wife Kate) of Spartanburg; great-nieces, Mary Ellen Suitt Barnwell (husband Brian) of Columbia, Sarah Elizabeth Handy of Charlotte; great-nephews, Donald Buchanan Daves of San Francisco, Thomas Howard Suitt, III of Atlanta, and Charles William Handy of Charlotte. She was preceded in death by her brother, Benjamin Green Suitt, Jr. Mary Ellen was a lifelong member of Central United Methodist Church. The family would like to express appreciation to the following friends for their love and support: Donna Sawyer, Sharon West, Darlene Harmon, Rita Heatherly, Sue Rummage, Kim Cole, Isabel Forbes, Christine Finney, the Wednesday Night Bible/Study Group, and the staff of Summit Hills Skilled Care. A celebration of her life will be held at 2:00 PM Monday, January 21, 2013, at Central United Methodist Church in downtown Spartanburg, conducted by the Rev. Alex Stevenson and the Rev. Dr. Susan Bennett. Following the service, the family will receive friends in the church social hall. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Central United Methodist Church, 233 N. Church Street, Spartanburg, SC 29306 or the Spartanburg County Foundation, Mary Ellen Suitt Fund, 424 E. Kennedy Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302. Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Mary Ellen Suitt please visit our Sympathy Store.