Juanita Rhame

Juanita Way Rhame, beloved Mom, Mimi, friend, neighbor, and community leader, died in her personal-design-inspired home on January 13, 2017 surrounded by family. A third generation native and life-long resident of Holly Hill, she was born on September 6, 1927 to Elois Breland Way and Lawrence Olin Way. Juanita Rhame was the valedictorian of her Holly Hill High School class of 1944, graduated from Furman University in 1948, and married Wilton Henry 'Billy' Rhame, Jr. on October 2, 1948 in a wedding dress she herself had made. Until his death in February 2016, she had been a persevering, steadfast caregiver in his last five years. Their marriage was characterized by love of family, shared enjoyment of friends, traveling adventures, pride in the town of Holly Hill, and commitment to Holly Hill First Baptist Church. Juanita Rhame was well-known as a small town Martha Stewart for her creativity in all the Southern domestic arts. She was a skilled seamstress from a young age, avid gardener and artful flower arranger, inventive cook (with specialties from cucumber sandwiches and breakfast pizza to brownie brittle and Greek pastries), inveterate hostess and entertainer, wood crafter (creating scale model house facades, Barbie-sized doll furniture, personalized children's toys, birdhouses, and home accessories), and furniture builder and upholsterer. She could rewire a lamp, hang wallpaper, paint and stencil, or repair a household appliance with equal skill. With her beautiful dark, then white hair and sense of style, she embodied the elegant 'steel magnolia' in form and substance. She was a charter member of The Ivy Garden Club, the oldest life-long member of the Holly Hill First Baptist Church at her death, designer of the Holly Hill welcome signs from 1987, originator of the July 4th neighborhood parade on Bennett Circle, and creator of yard storks for loan when new babies were born, among many community activities and projects. Siblings are older sister Jacqueline (Jackie) Connor and younger brother Lawrence Way (now deceased).Left to honor forever her memory are daughter Syd and her husband Don Janney of Atlanta, GA and son Wilton Henry 'Hank' Rhame, III and his wife Donna of Cameron, SC; grandchildren Taylor Janney, Camden Armsby (William), and Savannah, Will, and Madison Rhame; special-to-her niece Rosalyn Connor Brown; and Jannie Mae Gaillard, who has been a caring, beloved part of the family for over fifty years. The memorial service for Juanita Rhame is at 2:00 Monday, January 16, at Holly Hill First Baptist Church with the Rev. Marshall Locke and Rev. Earl Behr officiating.A coffee receptionwill follow in the church social hall. Memorials should be directed to the Holly Hill First Baptist Church, P. O. Box 235, Holly Hill, SC 29059or to The Potpourri Garden Club's 'Holly Tree Replacement Fund," P. O. Box 466, Vance, SC 29163.

Memorial Service

01/16/2017 14:00



Holly Hill UMC

1048 Peake Street

Holly HIll

SC

29059