Maxie Lee Harper

Mrs. Maxie Lee Long Harper, 85, of Hampton, entered into eternal rest Tuesday morning, May 2, 2023, at her residence.

Born January 15, 1938, in Walterboro, she was a daughter of the late Edward W. Long and Verna Sauls Long.  She first worked at Westinghouse and then went to work as an assistant to the band director at Wade Hampton High School.  She then became a secretary and bookkeeper for Wade Hampton and retired from Varnville Elementary.  She loved music and enjoyed playing the piano for choral concerts, taking trips with the band, and helping with anything the music department needed. Her love of music led her to give piano lessons in her home and to become an active member of the Hampton-Varnville Music Study Club.  Maxie Lee also loved gardening and working with her flowers and plants and was well known for her gardening skills.  She was a member of the Seed and Weed Garden Club in Hampton.

Maxie Lee was a devoted member of Trinity Lutheran Church where she played the organ until she retired.  She also served as treasurer for a number of years.  She enjoyed traveling with her husband after retirement, as well as going fishing and crabbing with him.  She was an astute Bridge player and could play almost any card game you could find.  She enjoyed cooking and was a talented seamstress.  She loved her community and enjoyed being a part of making it a great place to live. For many years, she was a member of the Hampton Cemetery Association. 

Surviving are: her husband of 66 years, Homer Lamar Harper, Jr. of Hampton; children, Rebecca Harper and her husband Jean-Pierre Bouchard of Quebec, Canada, Gaye Hutto and her husband Leon of Hilda, Rachel Kramer and her husband Jeff of Seabrook, and Homer Lamar Harper, III of Irmo; grandchildren, Courtney Kramer, Scott Kramer, Stephanie Hutto and Blake Hutto; great grandchildren, Laney Ray, Jackson Ray, Maddie Hutto, Nattalie Hutto, and Ethan Hutto; sisters-in-law, JoAnn Long of Hampton and Gwen Barnes of Columbia; many nieces and nephews; and her beloved dachshund and faithful companion, Coco.  She was preceded in death by her siblings, Ed Long, Jack Long, Sammy Long, Steve Long, and Ann Ramsey.

The family would like to thank her caregivers, especially Juliette Alexander, Marilyn Smith, Teresa Johnson, and Melissa Altman, for all the love, support and care they have given to Maxie Lee and their family.

Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105.

Funeral services will be held 2 o’clock, Friday afternoon, May 5, 2023, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 492 Hampton Avenue, Fairfax.  Interment will follow in Hampton Cemetery, 502 East Holly Street, Hampton. 

The family will receive friends during a time of visitation Thursday evening from 6 until 8 at THE BRICE W. HERNDON AND SONS FUNERAL HOMES AND CREMATORY, VARNVILLE-HAMPTON CHAPEL, 1074 Yemassee Highway, Varnville. Visit the guestbook online at: www.briceherndonfuneralhome.com. 

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