PICKENS — Effie Elizabeth Anderson Porter, age 91, wife of the late Garvin Edward Porter, “passed this life” Saturday, February 23, 2013 at Life Care Center, Columbia, SC. Mrs. Porter was born in Pickens, SC the daughter of the late Joseph Rugless Anderson and Nancy Reece. She was a lifelong member of Mountain Grove Baptist Church. Mrs. Porter retired at age 75 after working 35 years for Kentwool, Runnymede Plant. Mrs. Porter wrote the Award Winning Church History, Twin Springs and a Grove of Trees, a history of Mountain Grove Church.

Mrs. Porter was known far and wide for her flower gardens and her blueberries. Her garden story was featured in Carolina Gardner magazine. She was an avid embroiderer and quilt maker. Her children and grandchild were her pride and joy. She was a strong woman, from a line of strong women and more than anything she bequeathed that strength to her daughters and granddaughters.

Survivors include two daughters, Sue Porter Heiney and husband, Michael, and Polly Porter-Campbell, and her husband, Michael, two grandchildren, Amanda Heiney Dipietro and her husband Curtis DiPietro and Elizabeth Heiney, and one great grandchild, Sylas Vincent Danger DiPietro. Mrs. Porter was predeceased by her husband, her parents and one son; Kenneth Nelson, also six brothers.

A celebration of Mrs. Porter’s life and her home going will be held Saturday March, 2 at 3 pm at Mountain Grove Baptist Church, 644 E. Preston McDaniel Rd., Pickens, SC 29671. The family will receive friends and family both before and after the service. The family will greet visitors in the church social hall beginning at 1 pm where light refreshments will be served. The social hall will again be open from 4 to 6 where guests are invited to eat a light meal and fellowship with the family. Mrs. Porter was instrumental in obtaining funding from the Alexander Family to help build the fellowship hall. Through the Church History book, Mrs. Porter and Mrs. Hannah were responsible for the building and furnishing of the Church History Room in the Fellowship Hall. The History Room will be open for visitors during these times. Friends and family are encouraged to bring notes of memories of Mrs. Porter. A bulletin board and notecards will be available during the visitation for guests to write memories about Mrs. Porter which will be enjoyed for many years by her family.

Mrs. Porter wanted to be a nurse; her life circumstances prevented her realizing her dream. But she strongly supported both her daughters going to nursing school. Mrs. Porter requested no flowers. Instead, Polly and Sue ask for memorials to be sent either to College of Nursing Carolina Fund, University of South Carolina College of Nursing, 1601 Greene Street Columbia, SC 29208 or College of Nursing, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634.

DILLARD FUNERAL HOME

PICKENS, SC