Ellen Abee Duckett

Dateline - Whitmire

Ellen Abee Duckett, age 79, of 130 Pine Avenue, Whitmire, SC, died Tuesday morning, June 30, 2015 from Alzheimer’s disease. She passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her children. Born in Marion, SC, on May 8, 1936, she was the daughter of Vernon Vester Abee, Sr. and Irene Decker Abee. She grew up in Union, SC, where she left school at age 14 to go to work at Monarch Mill to help her mother provide a home for her younger brothers and sister. In 1953, she married Roy Allen Cody, who passed away 5 months after their daughter, Deborah, was born. In 1962, she married Robert “Bob” Duckett, who passed away in 2006.
She is survived by one son, Robert “Robbie” Duckett of Whitmire, three daughters, Deborah Cody Haydock (Wayne) of Spartanburg, SC, Barbara Duckett Reager (Ken) of Irmo, SC, Renee Duckett of Columbia, a daughter-in-law, Laura Lominick Duckett of Whitmire; six grandchildren, Jonathan Alcocer (Courtney), Elaina Alcocer, Gabriel Duckett, Jay Dunaway, Angela Seibert Laws, Amanda Dickert; six great-grandchildren, Micah and Jaden Alcocer, Ethan Griffith, Garrett and Jarrett Carle, and Isiah Laws; two brothers-in-law, Bill (Retha) Duckett of Whitmire and Maxwell Duckett of Clinton, and a loving caregiver, Rhonda Gregory of Whitmire.
She is predeceased by three brothers and a sister, Robert “Bob” Lee Abee, Billy Franklin Abee, Vernon Abee, Jr., and Mary Alice Abee Cranford.
After 50 years working in cotton mills, she worked at Park Street Elementary School in the cafeteria. She enjoyed the children tremendously and had a knack for creating simple, yummy desserts for them, on the side. Before retirement, she spent 10 years at Torrington in Clinton, SC.
You will not read here about our mom’s successful career, education, or her years of service to the community. Her name was only mentioned in the newspaper as a survivor of the deaths of her loved ones, or as a proud mother or grandmother. However, we cannot write her obituary simply listing the names of people in her life and where she was from. She lived a small life from a big heart. She lived a life of hard work and sacrifice, and of a quiet, strong, deep love for her family. Consistently, she set her own needs aside throughout her life, favoring the needs of others. She wasn’t involved in church, but she loved the Lord and prayed all the time. Gardening and cooking were her specialties, but more than anything she enjoyed playing with her grandchildren. In her last years, overwhelmed with love for us and our love for her, she asked many times, “What did I do to deserve you helping me like this?”
Her first grand daughter, Angie, describes Mama perfectly.... “I can't produce the name of a single other person who can match the heart of this woman; in her undiscriminating kindness, her quiet strength - even amidst the unthinkable, and soft-spoken nature, though she worked harder and without end than any man or woman outside of folklore. She'd never believe she's a role model, but she's certainly an exemplary woman of character and grace.”
Visitation for Ellen Duckett, 79, will be held at Gray Funeral Home of Whitmire Wednesday, July 1st from 7:00 – 9:00 PM. Funeral services will be Thursday, July 2nd at 2:30 PM at Pine Ridge Baptist Church, with burial at Whitmire Cemetery.
Pallbearers are nephews Johnny Abee, Matthew Abee, Trey Arrington, Anthony Cranford and Daniel Abee along with family friend Mike Gregory.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Pine Ridge Baptist Church, Whitmire, SC, or Hospice of Laurens County, PO Box 178, Clinton, SC.
Condolences may be expressed online at www.grayfuneralhome.com
Gray Funeral Home of Whitmire