Mary Cone Anderson

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Mary Cone Anderson (also known as "Mema"), who left us peacefully on April 28, 2025, surrounded by love and family. Born in Dorchester County on September 27, 1942, Mary lived a life full of joy, grit, and the kind of warmth that made everyone feel like family.

A true Lowcountry soul, Mary felt most at home near the water—whether she was casting a line on the Wando River or basking in the salty breeze by the ocean. She had a way of making every day full: catching fish in the morning, cooking a meal that fed an army by afternoon, and still finding time to sneak snacks to the grandkids and shower them with love before the sun went down. Her home was a place of warmth and welcome—the door always open, the rice and beans always hot, and somehow, there was always enough for one more plate at the table.

Mary was married to the love of her life, John Anderson (also known as "Pepa"), for 38 wonderful years. Together, they had four children: David (Rebecca), Eddie (Deborah), Michael (Tiffiny), and Kim (John). She was the proud Mema to 12 grand-children—Dakota (Dylan), Melissa (Dustin), Katelyn, Wesley, Dalton (Monique), Taylor (Nick), Ariel, Lauren, John Ryan,  Hunter (Haley), Austin, and Skylar (Anthony)—and the great-grandmother of 12. Each of them brought her immense joy, and she returned that joy in the form of hugs, laughter, food, and an endless supply of love.

She is survived by her sister, Inez Reeves, and was preceded in death by her brother Edmund Cone and sisters Linda Cook and Nina Garner. Her legacy lives on in the stories we tell, the meals we share, and the love she poured into her family and friends.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at 1:00 PM, with a service to follow at 2:00 PM at Simplicity Funeral Home in Ladson, SC. All who knew her are invited to come share a memory, a laugh, or simply pay their respects to a woman who made the world a little brighter.