Phyllis Mahkorn Craven

Mrs. Phyllis Louise Mahkorn Craven, 96, of Cottageville entered into rest eternal Sunday morning, June 28, 2026, at Ridgeland Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She was the wife of the late James Monroe Craven.

Phyllis was born on February 16,1930 in Venice, California; the daughter of the late George Herman Mahkorn, III and Florence Edith Garrison Mahkorn. Shortly after being born, her family moved to the South Los Angeles area. Phyllis’s grandparents in Chicago would send train tickets so her mom, brother and herself could visit them before starting school. She remembers the fun they had sleeping in the big chairs and the several return trips made to Chicago. They would also travel to Oregon and Washington to spend vacations with her mom’s brothers and sisters and their extended families. Phyllis graduated from John C. Fremont High in Los Angeles in January 1949. Her class was the last winter class graduation.

She met her husband in 1954 while he was in the Navy stationed at San Diego. They were married on February 19,1955 in Compton and moved to South Carolina where he was from.

She worked for various companies in the Charleston area as a bookkeeper. In 1976, she started work at Oristo Resort on Edisto Beach. She continued working there for Fairfield Resorts until the company changed to Wyndham Resort, deciding to retire in 2006. She was a member of Cottageville Baptist Church where she attended the Adult Sunday School Class before her health declined. She loved reading mysteries, watching game shows on tv and being entertained by her two cats, Rascal & Troublette. Her husband gave her the nickname “Bones” due to her small size and so the grandchildren called her “Grandma Bones” as did many of her friends.

Mrs. Craven is survived by her four children, Wanda C. Bailey (James VonLehe Bailey) of Cottageville; Steven Craven (Kristie) of Crystal River, Florida; Sharon Campbell of Smoaks and Patrick R. Grant (Sandi) of Texas.

She is also survived by eight grandchildren, seventeen great-grandchildren and five great-great grandchildren. Also survived by her sister-in-law, Mary Stone and brother-in-law, Jerry Blake (Dale) both of Simpsonville and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased in death by her granddaughter, Nicole Elizabeth Bailey, son-in-law, Kenneth W. Campbell; brother, Ronald Mahkorn; and sisters-in-law; Ann Mahkorn, Shirley Blake and Nancy Ann Piatt.

The family would like to thank Jay, Krystal, Ruby, Morgan and Pastor Sanford with Agape Care Group Beaufort and the Ridgeland Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for the care they gave her. They would also like to thank Ms. Margaret Smith, her roommate, for being a good friend.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be directed in her memory to the following: Friends of Colleton County Animal Shelter, 33 Poor Farm Road, Walterboro, South Carolina 29488; or to, Dementia Society of America, Post Office Box 600, Doylestown, Pennsylvania 18901.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11 o’clock Thursday morning, July 2, 2026, from The Brice W. Herndon and Sons Funeral Chapel, Walterboro. The Reverend Daryl Erwin officiating. Interment will follow in Glendale Memorial Cemetery, 2210 Mount Carmel Road, Walterboro.

The family will receive friends prior to the funeral ceremony beginning at 10 o’clock at THE BRICE W. HERNDON AND SONS FUNERAL HOMES AND CREMATORY, WALTERBORO CHAPEL, 1193 Bells Highway, Walterboro, 843.538.5408. Visit the registry online at: www.briceherndon.com.