Pamela Mcarthur

Pamela DeFore McArthur, 76, of Spartanburg, SC, died Wednesday July 31, 2013, at Spartanburg Regional Hospice Home after a courageous battle with squamous cell cancer of the head and neck. Born Pamela Lillian Pinkney on February 4, 1937, in Paterson, NJ, she was the daughter of the late Julian Myers Pinkney and Mary Elizabeth MacDonald Pinkney. Her parents later moved to Spartanburg for their retirement. Pam grew up in Massachusetts and graduated from the MacDuffie School in Springfield, MA in 1955. In 1958 she earned the R.N. degree from the New England Baptist Hospital School of Nursing in Boston. Pam then earned certification as a Lamaze Childbirth Instructor in 1975. In August 1980, she earned the B.S.N. degree from the University of South Carolina in Columbia. On December 27, 1958 in Boston, MA, Pam married Harry Lee DeFore and moved to Spartanburg. After starting her own family, her interest in educating women for childbirth and parenthood led to the presentation of her popular Lamaze classes for 20 years. Locally, over 6,000 expectant parents and some 4,100 babies experienced the benefits of prepared childbirth from Pam's classes. Her interest in preparation for childbirth was stimulated by her own premature birth at about 30 weeks and her fierce fight for life while her twin sister had died in the womb three weeks before Pamela's birth. Her parents gave her round-the-clock care in a homemade but medically approved incubator! Beginning in 1975, she shared her strong belief in women's inner strength, wisdom, and courage through her vision and leadership with Lamaze classes and in 1989 with education and development classes for medical staff at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center. She retired from the hospital system in July of 2002. Her dedication to women and the power of women's education led to her earning certification in intuitive skill use from the National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine. Throughout her career, Pam was given many honors. In 1998, she was recognized for her dedication and leadership by the Lamaze International Board of Directors. Pam became a Fellow in the American College of Childbirth Educators, ASPO/Lamaze, of which she was a charter member. In addition to her nursing profession, for many years, Pam was involved in the work of First Presbyterian Church where she served as both an ordained Elder and a Deacon. She was commissioned as a Stephen Minister in May of 2003. Her volunteer efforts in schools, civic and other health commissions and her support of music and the arts have enriched Spartanburg. Her involvement included membership in the Mary Elizabeth Heath Book Club and the Purnell Fund Committee of First Presbyterian. She was a retired member of the Spartanburg Debutante Club. Pam loved to travel and visited many countries. She was an avid reader, a gourmet cook, competitive bridge player and a fine dancer. Pam McArthur embraced her life and encouraged others to do the same. Her first husband Harry Lee DeFore, Sr. died in 1988. On December 14, 1991, she married Dr. Donald Smith McArthur of Spartanburg. She was again widowed in January of 2005. Pam was also pre-deceased by her younger sister, Sandra Pinkney Washburn. Pam is survived by a daughter, Renee Pinckney DeFore who had returned to Spartanburg from Washington, DC, to help her mother during her illness; a son, Harry Lee DeFore Jr. of Seneca and his wife Sally and their three children, Daniel, Alexandra and Nicole DeFore; three step-daughters, Virginia McArthur of Washington, DC; Sandra McArthur Hannum of Urbana, IL and Donna McArthur Vidaurrazaga of Thousand Oaks, CA; and five step-grandchildren, John, Monica and Sophia Vidaurrazaga, and Christie and Jeff Hannum. A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 PM Friday August 9, 2013, at First Presbyterian Church in Spartanburg. Family will greet friends in the Social Hall at the church immediately following the memorial service. Burial will be held in a private ceremony at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens. Memorials may be to the Purnell Fund of First Presbyterian Church, 393 East Main Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302; or to Safe Homes, 236 Union Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302. Floyd's North Church Street Chapel To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Pamela DeFore McArthur please visit our Sympathy Store.