Maude Emma McCleod Bethea was born on June 15, 1921 in Dillon County, S.C. to Emma and Robert McCleod. Mrs. Bethea graduated from Gordon School in Dillon County and received her B.A. Degree in 1952 From Morris College in Sumter, S.C. In 1961, she earned her Master's Degree from Columbia University, New York, in the field of Speech Pathology. She was united in marriage to Waltz Bethea in 1945. Two sons, Ralph and Ronald Kenneth, were born to this union. Mrs. Bethea taught elementary, middle, and high school for nearly 45 years in the Dillon County school system. A woman of exceptional business acumen who loved the beauties of nature, she had a special talent for growing and creating lovely arrangements of plants and flowers for every occation. After her retirement, she established and personally operated a successful flower shop out of her home for many years, Mrs. Bethea was an individual of uncommon strength, strong conviction, and deep religious faith. She began attending Sunday School at Manning Baptist Church in Dillon with her mother and sisters, Flossie and Ida Mae. As an adult, she became a member of the church, serving faithfully for more than 50 years. A member of numerous church organizations, she was the President of the senior choir and of the Missionary Circle for many years. Her long standing and life- long commitment to enhancing the educational achievement of children led to her membership on the South Carolina Teacher's Association and to her continued involvement with the school system for several years after her retirement. Mrs. Bethea joined the Order of the Eastern Star in 1965. She served as one of the Star points, the point of Martha, for the Euclid Chapter, Number 24, District 5, of Dillon, S.C. On August 12, 2007, Mrs. Bethea departed this life at Washington Adventist Hospital in Tacoma Park, MD. Her son, Ronald, had brought her to the area to seek additional medical care and, at her request, to visit their relatives. While visiting in the area, she was hospitalized. Mrs. Bethea was preceded in death by her husband, Waltz; and mother, Emma McCleod. She leaves to mourn two sons, Ralph of Atlanta, GA. and Ronald (Gwendolyn) of Tacoma Park, MD; two sisters, Flossie Board of Akron, Ohio; and Ida Mae ( Leroy ) Lindsay, of Washington, D.C.; a sister-in-law, Inez Ellerbe ( Gilbert ) of Conway, S.C., five grandchildren, two great grandchildren, and a host of other relatives and friends. The quiet grace, strength, and consistently positive demeanor of Mrs. Maude Emma McCloed Bethea will be forever remembered and treasured by all who knew and loved her.