Anne Gibson Lavender

Anne Gibson Lavender, 96, passed away at The Marsh in Mt. Pleasant on June 16, 2025. She was born on December 29, 1928, in Inman, South Carolina to the late Alliene Hipp Gibson and Brainard Wilson Gibson, Sr. She was preceded in death by her husband, William (Billy) Thomas Lavender; and her brother, Brainard Wilson (Sonny) Gibson, Jr., and her sister, Susan Gibson McElveen, all of whom were educators.

A visitation will be from 10-11 a.m., on Thursday, June 19, 2025, and the funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. Both will be held at New Zion Methodist Church, 7169 Salem Road, New Zion, SC, burial will follow in the church cemetery. Rev. Eric McGill,  Rev. Fred McDaniel, and Rev. Patrick Goodwin will officiate. Pallbearers will be Will Lavender, Daniel Lavender, Daniel Hudson, Carl Lavender, Edgar Baker and Nicholas Weaver. Honorary pallbearers will be Edward Lavender, Earl Lavender, Mark Ward, Brandon Ward, Grey Coker, Blake Gibbons, Whit Gibbons, Steve Gibbons, Jay Johnson, and Hunter Johnson.

Anne began her working career in the peach sheds in Inman at the early age of five (5). She was in the 9th grade when her family moved to Pinewood in 1943 and graduated from the 11th grade in 1945. While living in Pinewood, she continued her working career in the local drugstore. She left for Columbia College when her parents moved to New Zion. She graduated from C2 in 1949 and began teaching in Johnsonville while she was courting a local New Zion boy,  Billy Lavender.

Anne and Billy married in 1951 and moved to Saint Stephen where Billy coached football and taught high school while Anne taught elementary school. They started their family there with the birth of both Tommy and Sally. In mid-1950’s, the family moved to Harleyville where Billy coached football and taught high school where again she taught at the elementary school. In 1961, the family moved to New Zion where both of their parents lived. Once again, Billy coached football and taught at Mayewood High School and Anne taught at Mayewood Junior High School where her love for seventh and eighth graders began. Anne taught at Mayewood until she transitioned to the district level as a Reading Coordinator. In the early 1970’s, she briefly taught at Salem Schools in New Zion, then moved to East Clarendon school district. She was always a teacher and a presence in the lives of those who knew her and loved her. She obtained her Master’s degree from USC in 1976. She retired in 1988 at the East Clarendon District as its Reading Coordinator. Her teaching career spanned 37 years in Florence, Berkeley, Dorchester, Sumter, and Clarendon counties.

Anne and Billy spent their early retirement years caring for their mothers in New Zion, then they made many friends at Lakewood Campground before Anne moved back to New Zion to rekindle friendships, read, do crossword puzzles, and play cards. At 95 years old she reluctantly agreed to leave her home and relocate to Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. Anne was a life-long Methodist and devoted member of New Zion Methodist Church where she taught Sunday School for many years. Her sweater, seat cushion, and one of her many Bibles remained in “Mrs. Anne’s” pew seat until just recently.

She is survived by her children, W.T. “Tommy” Lavender, Jr., (Cindy), and Sally L. Newman (Steve, deceased). She also has five grandchildren, Will (Katie) Lavender, Daniel (Laura) Lavender, Kristin (Daniel) Hudson, Anne (David) Clark, and Kate Newman. She has six great grandchildren Ben, Blakely, Julia, Emma, Thomas, Aurora, and another on the way.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to New Zion Methodist Church cemetery fund, P.O. Box 15, New Zion, SC 29111 or to the Clarendon Christian Learning Center, PO Box 911, Manning, South Carolina 29102 both of which were the recipients of her own generosity.

In addition to a rich lifetime of family, friends, and students, the family would like to express their appreciation to Lutheran Hospice Services as well as her friends and the staff at The Marsh at Carolina Park for the love and care they provided Mrs. Anne in her final days.

Arrangements and care for "Mrs. Anne" have been entrusted to Floyd Funeral Home, located at 138 E. Main Street, Olanta, SC. For more information, please contact them at (843)396-4470 or visit their website at www.floydfuneral.com.

"Mrs. Anne" Lavender will be remembered for her unwavering dedication to her faith, her commitment to education, and her loving nature, especially the beach. Her spirit and legacy will continue to inspire all who knew her. May she rest in eternal peace.