Edith Virginia Riley Wessinger

Edith Virginia Riley Wessinger died peacefully on Monday, August 19, 2024, with family by her side. She was a daughter of the late John Derrick and Emma Ruth Lindler Riley. Mrs. Wessinger was born in Lexington and spent her childhood in the Ridge Road community of Lexington County. She married James Franklin Wessinger, Jr. on January 16, 1953, and moved to Chapin. Over the next 70 years, she raised a family, became an active member of St. Thomas Lutheran Church, and the Chapin community. She worked at the G.E. Plant in the 1950's, opened and ran a small business in Chapin in the 1 960's, and worked at Ellett Brothers in the 1970's and retired in the 1980's. She actually possessed a security clearance to work at the G.E. “bomb plant” as it was known and even when asked in her final years was unwilling to divulge the scope of her work.

In her teenage years, she could have easily been a model or movie star, and she had the “Liz Taylor” hair to prove it. However, she chose a humble life being a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, daughter and daughter-in-law, sister and sister-in law and friend to many. In her adult years, she grew a large vegetable garden and there was always enough food to preserve and share with neighbors. She was gifted with a green thumb and loved her plants, especially roses and camellias. Year round, her garden was brimming with flowers and visitors often left with a handful of cut flowers or plants to fill their own garden. In her retirement, she and her husband enjoyed traveling in their camper. They made many trips, with the most frequent being the long trip to Alaska for the summers, enjoying the journey as much as the destination. Mrs. Wessinger was also an avid Gamecock fan. She probably had no choice in the matter with her three children graduating from the University of South Carolina. In retirement, they along with her brothers and their spouses enjoyed tailgating to many years of Carolina football games and watching the games on TV.

Everyone who met Mrs. Wessinger “aka Miss Edie” described her as the sweetest person that they ever met. She always had a kind word or "thank you" and was willing to lend a helping hand. She was generous with her time and many talents which included her gardening, flower arranging, sewing and ceramic art. The most frequent recipient was St. Thomas. Over the years she set up Communion wares, arranged flowers, tended to Paraments and created ornaments for the Crismon trees – and she was always on board for the church picnics and barbecues!

She was a beautiful person, "inside and out” with unconditional love being the gift that she shared the most. She embodied the quintessential mother and grandmother - loving, kind, gentle, nurturing and most importantly willing to play games with all the children. Her strength and resilience even during life's challenges serves as a model for her family. She was a devout Christian. She loved her Church and Church family. During the times of stress and grief, her faith remained deep and strong. She never wavered in her faithfulness to the Lord. "The Lord will provide" was something she said in difficult times. The Lord did keep and comfort her throughout her life. In her last hour, she talked about seeing a “white rock”, then “church” and her last words were “church is over.” Perhaps Jesus was sitting on that white rock calling her home.

She is survived by her son, Franklin Wessinger (Leslie); her daughter, Janet Wessinger Tapp (Allen); grandchildren, Cullen Padgett (Elizabeth), Hampton Padgett (Christine), Blake Wessinger and Caroline Tapp; great-grandchildren, Layla and Airlie Padgett; her brother, David Riley; and Buddy, her cat. She was predeceased by her husband, James F. Wessinger, Jr.; daughter, Virginia Linn Wessinger Padgett; and brothers and sister, James, Don, Ralph Riley and Alice R. Harmon.

A visitation for Edith will be held Saturday, August 24, 2024 from 1:00 PM to 1:45 PM at St. Thomas Lutheran Church, 215 St. Thomas Church Road, Chapin, South Carolina 29036, with a funeral service to follow at 2:00 PM. A burial will take place after the service in the church cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Thomas Lutheran Church or the charity of your choice.