Mary Laney Hinson, widow of Connie Earl Hinson, died Tuesday, October 25, 2011. at the Tuomey Regional Medical Center. Born in Camden, S.C., she was a daughter of the late Landy Barron Laney and the late Bernice Laney Boyce.
Mrs. Hinson was a member of First Baptist Church of Sumter and the Fellowship Sunday School class. Mary was Program Director of the Sumter Recreation Department for 29 years. She was elected the “Professional Recreator of the Year” in 1977. Upon retirement, she was inducted into the SC Recreation and Park Society Hall of Fame. She also received a Certificate of Appreciation from the SC House of Representatives.
Mary and her late husband, Connie Hinson, opened a professional training barn for Tennessee Walking Horses in the early 1960’s. Mary rode horses and won many ribbons and trophies. She was named the SC “Horse Woman of the Year” on several occasions and was inducted into the SC Walking Horse Owners Association (SCWAOA) Hall of Fame in 1990. She has served as President of this association and was on the Board of Directors. She was a member of the SC Walking Horse Ladies Auxiliary and has held every office in this organization over the years. She served as South Carolina’s representative on the Board of the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders and Exhibitors Association (TWHBEA) in 1992.
Mary was a member of the Sumter Pilot Club. She served as President for several terms and as District Chairwoman on the state Pilot Club Board. She was a charter member of The Forum, a women’s civic awareness organization; a charter member of the Sumter Artists’ Guild and the Sumter Gallery of Art. She was a charter member of the Poinsett Garden Club, where she served as President for several terms. She was a member of the SC Garden Clubs Board and held a life membership in the National Garden Club Council. She also served as President of the Sumter Council of Garden Clubs. Mary was a member of the SC Judges Club and held a master’s certificate in Flower Arrangement and Horticulture.
She is survived by two daughters, Sandra Hinson Wallace and Lynn Hinson Mood (Bobby); two grandchildren, Allison R. Reaves (Lee) and Christopher Rorick; nine grandchildren, Claire Morehouse, McKenzie Morehouse, Hunter Rorick, Will Rorick, Marianna Rorick, Christopher Rorick, Jr., Carley Rorick, Wade Reaves, and Stephen Reaves; three brothers, Landy Laney, Frank Laney (Sally), and Tommy Laney (Cheryl); one sister, Phyllis Laney DaParma.In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Judy Hinson Rorick, a son-in-law, Melvin H. Wallace, three brothers, Bob Laney, Maurice Laney, and Sam Laney; and a sister, Jean Laney Leonard.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00p.m. Sunday at First Baptist Church in Sumter, with the Rev. Charles Clanton and the Rev. Lyn Anderson officiating. Burial will be in the Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Edward Laney, Wayne Laney, Loren Laney, Frank Laney, Johnny Laney, Jeff Fink, Bruce Morehouse, and Danny Pardue. Honorary Pallbearers will be Eddie Poore, Rusty Poore, Johnny Hewitt, Lonnie McCoy, Robert Scott, Louis Hurley, and Brenda Coker. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Saturday at the Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home and other times at the home of her daughter, Sandra Wallace. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church Global Missions or Benevolence
Fund, P. O. Box 867, Sumter, SC 29151 or to the Pilot Club of Sumter, in care of Debbie Jordan, Treasurer, 1070 Boardwalk, Sumter, SC 29150.