Mary Rebecca Austin Wylie

Mary Rebecca Austin Wylie was born on December 30, 1937 in Berkeley County, SC and died December 8, 2023 in Greenville, SC. Mary was the youngest of five children born to Rebecca DeHay Austin and Willis W. Austin. She graduated from Berkeley High School and later North Greenville College. After graduation, Mary returned to Moncks Corner, SC to work as a secretary at First Baptist Church. In 1960, she moved to Greenville, SC to join the staff of First Baptist Church Greenville where she worked for over forty years. She served as Music Assistant, working with four music ministers. After retirement, she worked as a receptionist at the church for many years.

On July 8, 1961, Mary married the love of her life Jerome (Jerry) Turner Wylie of Blacksburg, SC. Mary was a loving wife to Jerry and they celebrated 60 years together before his death in 2021. Mary and Jerry were blessed with sons Jerry Austin Wylie, Jeffrey Scott Wylie, and daughter Julia Carole Wylie Histon and later seven wonderful grandchildren. Mary was affectionally known as “Berry” to her grandchildren. She was everything you could ask for as a mother and grandmother: caring, loving, protective, encouraging, and supportive. She always thought of others before herself. She had the biggest heart, and she had boundless energy and love that she shared with all who crossed her path.

Mary is survived by her son Jerry (Amy) and children Justin (Allison) and Jacob, son Jeff (April) and children Morgan and Scott, and daughter Julie (Brian) and children Haley, Katherine, and Thomas. She is also survived by sisters-in-law Barbara Austin, Julia Wylie Bumgarner, and Margie Wylie; brothers-in-law Richard Gibson and Jim Wylie; and many nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her husband; her parents; her sisters Margie Austin Gibson and Genevieve Austin; brothers Hugo Austin, Jervey Austin and Willis Austin; and sister-in-law Fran Austin.

Mary was a member of First Baptist Church Greenville for over 60 years and a proud member of the church choir for most of those years. Her special love was music and singing. After retiring from the choir, she loved singing hymns loud and proud with the congregation. She was a long-time member of the Suzy Lee Bagwell Circle and a member of the Johnson Sunday School class.

A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, December 16, 2023 at 1:00 pm at First Baptist Church Greenville with Reverend Kyle D. Matthews officiating. Visitation will follow the service in the church narthex.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church Music Ministry, 847 Cleveland Street, Greenville, SC, 29601, or to other charities of one’s choice.