Mary Johanna Scheer Evans

Mary Johanna Scheer Evans, “Mary Jo”, died Wednesday, December 11, 2024 at her home. 

Mary was born in Cumberland, Md., Aug. 1, 1939, and thereafter the family moved to Alexandria, Virginia. She graduated from George Washington High School in 1957 and took classes at George Washington University. Mary married Jackie Branson Evans (1939-2020) in November 1960, and his job took them to Bloomington, Minnesota, Casselberry Florida, Charlotte, NC, Jacksonville, Florida, Greenville, SC, Raleigh, NC, and James Island, SC before settling in Columbia in 1996. 

Mary’s compassion for others was paramount in her life, evidenced first and foremost by her love and care of her family.  She was led to employment and volunteer work in positions of service, such as the Nearly New Shop in Greenville, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church Soup Kitchen in Greenville, tour docent for both Greenville News as well as Post and Courier’s office and pressroom, volunteer and later volunteer coordinator at the University of South Carolina’s McKissick Museum, and Administrative Assistant in the registrar’s office at USC’s Moore School of Business. She was an active member in the Episcopal Church in every city the family resided. Mary was a supporter of charitable organizations, and sat on the board of Goodwill Industries in the late 1970’s. She was a lifelong thrift shopper which led her to develop a series of Inflation Fighting Tips on WFBC radio in the 1970’s, writing her own scripts and recording the episodes for broadcast. Additionally, she wrote a regular segment in the Greenville News of helpful hints and tips for saving money. She later went on to become “The Talk of Greenville” on WGVL Radio in the early 1980s. In Columbia, she occasionally wrote articles for the Black News. Mary was an upright citizen and Good Samaritan, making herself available to those in need of her seemingly unlimited human kindness.

Mary is predeceased by her husband, Jackie Branson Evans. She is survived by her brothers Lloyd Francis Scheer, Jr. and Frank Reeder Scheer (Arja Seppälä), both of Alexandria; daughter May Evans Kirby (Bentz) and son Worthy Branson Evans II (Lizabeth Owens), both of Columbia. She had six grandchildren: Brian Law Weatherwax of Charlotte, N.C., Kathryn Crawford “Kate” Weatherwax Blinn (Justin) of Charlotte, Thomas Gage Weatherwax of Savannah, Ga., Anna Lloyd Weatherwax of Chicago, Matthew Branson Evans of Columbia, and Elizabeth Ruth Evans of Madison, Wisconsin.

In Mary’s memory, we ask everyone to consider what they feel is limiting them—and explore ways and ideas to do whatever they can to give their fellow humans peace.

A celebration of Mary’s life will be held at a later date. 

In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Mary Evans may be sent to the charity of one’s choice or to MIRCI (www.mirci.org), or Harvest Hope Food Bank (www.harvesthope.org).

The family would like to express sincere appreciation to the staff at Amedysis Hospice, and heartfelt gratitude to Arlethea McMillan for her tender and unwavering caregiving for the past 21 months.

South Carolina Cremation Society is assisting the family. Family and friends may sign the online guest book by clicking on the “Tribute Wall” tab above.