Joan Copeland Charles

Mrs. Charles was born on April 23, 1932 in Suffolk, VA, daughter of the late William M. Copeland and Edna Sanford Copeland Ruthven. She was also predeceased by her son, William E. Barrett, Jr., and her sister, Barbara C. Ratley. She lived most of her life in SC in Conway, Florence, Camden, Lexington, Columbia and Surfside Beach. She was a member of the Lexington United Methodist Church and had been a member of the Surfside UMC for many years. Her first job was helping at the movie theater in Conway operated by her parents. She worked as a bookkeeper until her retirement. In later years she worked as a tour guide in the low country areas, sharing her love of the history and beauty of the SC coastal area. She was a volunteer and guide for Brookgreen Gardens.

Joan graduated from Conway High School and attended Newberry College and the University of SC – a loyal Gamecock fan. She had been active in the Cub Scouting and Girl Scouting with her children and church activities through the years. She loved gardening, bird watching, and wildlife. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and aunt.

Survivors are her daughter, Lauralee Barrett of Lexington; a granddaughter, Madison Barrett of Greenville; three nieces, Sherri Timmons (Chuck), Vicki Ratley of Greenville and Becky Sturm (Richard) of Edisto; several great- nieces and nephews and many friends.

Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 29, 2019 at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel, 503 North Lake Dr., Lexington, SC 29072. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment will be held at Mount Hope Cemetery, 100 Cherokee Rd., Florence, SC 29501 on Sunday, June 30, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please send memorial gifts to Tidelands Community Hospice, 2591 N. Fraser Street, Georgetown, SC 29440.