Obituary of Cecilia Fair Edmunds

Cecilia Fair McLeod Edmunds, 80, widow of Richard “Dick” Edmunds, passed into the presence of her Heavenly Father and Lord Jesus Christ on Sunday, July 30, 2023 at her home. Fair was the oldest child of Eugene Belton McLeod and Sadie Fair Aycock McLeod. She was born on July 26, 1943, in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, educated in the public schools of Sumter County, attended Columbia College, USC Sumter, and graduated from Florence-Darlington School of Nursing. She was part of the initial group that started Wilson Hall School in Sumter. Fair received Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities in 1981. She was a member of the Wedgefield Presbyterian Church where she served as the first female Elder. She also served as a Sunday School teacher, Song Leader, Moderator of the Women of the Church, and served on the Mission Division of New Harmony Presbytery. She was a member of the Poinsett-Bland Garden Club, where she served as president. She also served as President of the Sumter Council of Garden Clubs for 4 terms. She was the East Sandhills District Director and a member of the State Board of GCSC. She became an accredited Flower Show Judge and served as President of the DIA Study Club. Fair was a church soloist for many decades, and she sang with the Sumter Civic Chorale for 10 years. She retired from Sumter Surgical Associates after 25 years working as a Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant and a Certified Nurse in the Operating Room. Fair is survived by sons, Richard Champion “Champ” Edmunds, Jr. (Barbara) of Darby, MT and Thomas Frederick “Freddy” Edmunds, II (Emilie) of Sumter; eight grandchildren, T. Edmunds (Mary Elizabeth), Anna Lee (Hunter), Cecilia Ormond (Isaac), Emilie Hayes Clinton (Gaberial), Dylan Edmunds (Taylor), Sarah Lencioni (Eric); Meredith Yates (Zach); Jesse Neale and 16 great-grandchildren; a sister, Helen M. Lee (Wedrell); thr ee brothers, E. B. “Mac” McLeod, Jr. (Joanie), Robert Kenny “Ken” McLeod (Cindy) and Walter Pinkney McLeod (Tammy) all of Pinewood. Funeral services will be held at 11 AM Thursday at the Wedgefield Presbyterian Church with Revs. Jody & Rodney Foster officiating. Burial will be in the Wedgefield Presbyterian Church Cemetery. Nephews will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends at the home at 106 Chappell St. Memorials may be made to Wedgefield Presbyterian Church, P. O. Box 36, Wedgefield, SC 29168, to the Poinsett-Bland Garden Club C/O Gay Nelson 2198 Avalon Dr. Sumter, SC 29150 or to The Garden Club of South Carolina, Inc., 701 Gervais Street, Suite 150-142, Columbia, SC 29201. Online condolences may be made at www.sumterfunerals.com Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad Street, Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements (803) 775-9386