Mary Givens Obituary

Mary Glenn Givens

May 23, 1934 - April 1, 2026

Sumter, South Carolina - On Wednesday, April 1, 2026, Mary Glenn Fishburne Givens left National Health Care in Sumter, SC and went to be with the Lord.

Mary Glenn was born to the late Cotesworth Pinckney Fishburne, III and Beryl Celeste Brawley Fishburne on Wednesday, May 23, 1934, a beautiful spring day in Walterboro, SC.

She graduated from Walterboro High School in 1951. She attended Appalachian State Teachers College in the summer of 1954. In 1955, she graduated from Columbia College, receiving her Bachelor of the Arts with a double major in Library Science and Piano. She taught Literary Science at Dreher High School that same year.

Thereafter, Mary Glenn worked as a librarian at the Medical College of South Carolina in Charleston, where she met her future husband, Dr. Lea Burnett Givens. They married on June 14, 1958, in Walterboro at Bethel Methodist Church.

They lived in Charleston where she was a librarian at the Ashley Hall School for girls until they moved to Sumter, SC in the summer of 1959. She then taught geography and history at Alice Drive Junior High School from1960 to1962. They were married for 53 years until Dr. Givens passed away.

She was a diligent, loving wife and mother, a committed friend and a devoted member of the Sumter community. She was much loved by her children and will be sorely missed.

Mary Glenn was an avid reader and gardener who took great pride in her flowers and garden. She loved to entertain, to travel in Europe and North America and to shop, especially for antiques and clothes. She also enjoyed classical music and attended concerts whenever she could.

She served as President of the Sumter Art Association and Chairman of the Board of the Sumter County Library. Mary Glenn was also a member of The Book Club, Colonial Dames of America, Daughters of the American Revolution, The Drama Club, First Families of South Carolina, Heritage Garden Club, Junior Welfare League, Sumter County Heart Association, Sumter - Clarendon - Lee Medical Auxiliary, Sumter Genealogical Society, Sumter-Shaw Community Concert Association, SC Historical Society, Trinity United Methodist Church, Fa Ha Lo Sunday School Class, and a Charter member of Les Trente Club. She also actively supported many worthy charities.

She is survived by sons, Lea Burnett Givens, Jr. and wife Linda of Charleston and Glenn Fishburne Givens of Sumter.

She was predeceased by her husband, Dr. Lea Burnett Givens and her brother, Dr. Cotesworth Pinckney Fishburne IV.

The family would particularly like to express their gratitude to Dr. Hugh Stoddard, Dr. Trent Shook, NP Laurin Lee, Peggy Laws, Betty Tindal, Walesha Gordon, Stacey McConico, Brandie Barwick, Sonia Mickens, Sumter Visiting Angels and the entire staff and administration at National Health Care in Sumter.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Monday at Trinity United Methodist Church with the Rev. Angela Marshall officiating.

Pallbearers will be Dr. Mitchell Levi, Travis McIntosh, Wade Kolb, Hugh "Chip" Humphries, Sims Propst, Dr. Hugh Stoddard, and Gene Mathews. Honorary pallbearers will be The Book Club.

The family will receive friends in the Fellowship Hall of the church, immediately following the service.

Following the funeral, burial will be held at Sumter Cemetery.

In praise of her life, those who wish may send memorial contributions to the Alzheimer's Association, 225 Michigan Ave, Fl 17, Chicago, IL 60601 (online at ALZ.ORG) or Trinity UMC.

Online condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com.

Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad St, Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements (803) 775-9386.