Miriam Hoover Connelly

MIRIAM ELISE HOOVER CONNELLY 1918-2017 Miriam Hoover Connelly passed away peacefully with grace and dignity on Friday morning, September 8, just two weeks shy of her 99th birthday. "Mimi," as she became known first to her grandchildren and eventually by all who knew her, was born to Annie Rentz Hoover & William Franklin Hoover at home in Varnville, SC, on September 24, 1918. She attended Varnville Schools and Berry College in Rome, GA. With the exception of her time at Berry, she lived almost her entire life in South Carolina, most of it in the Hampton-Varnville area. After leaving college, she returned home to South Carolina where she was courted by Charles O’Neal Connelly. Miriam and Charles were married on September 28, 1940, at home in Varnville and made their home in Hampton. Their family grew as they added three children: Larry, Don and Connie. Miriam was a stay-at-home mom during the years that her children were young, becoming a secretary for Farm Bureau Insurance in Hampton until her retirement in the mid-1980s. In her spare time and in her retirement, Mimi loved to garden. She was a member of the Hampton Garden Club. Her knack for gardening made her Hampton home a showplace and took “Garden of the Month” honors often. She and Charles were active in the First Baptist Church of Hampton for most of their married life. In 1995 Miriam and Charles left their home in Hampton to move closer to their daughter in North Augusta, where they became members of the First Baptist Church there. Mimi was exceptionally strong-minded with a “can-do” attitude; as Charlie would attest, you just didn’t tell her “no!" Widowed at 93, she continued to live in her own home for several years, before moving into the Regency House in Decatur, GA, near both of her sons and their families. While there, she enjoyed making new friends, reminiscing and sharing stories about the “old days” during afternoon visits with Don. Her strong Christian values were passed along to her children and grandchildren by her daily example; she lived her faith everyday of her 98 years. Mimi was a grand example of our “greatest generation.” She was frugal to a fault – saving and reusing aluminum foil (and everything else!) over and over – a “recycler” long before it was fashionable. She believed in working hard and taking care of those she loved. Her cooking skills ranked right up there with her gardening! Sunday dinners at her table were not to be missed. Her Macaroni Pie and Glorified Brownies will never be duplicated! Mimi’s sense of humor was legendary and she passed it along to her children and grandchildren; time spent with all the family together was always filled with laughter. Her husband Charles preceded Mimi in death in 2011, after 71 years of marriage. Also preceding her were her sisters Corrine “Cokie” Hoover Booth, Lois Hoover Duckworth, Verna Hoover Deloach Campbell, her brother Edgar Hoover and her grandson Jordan Connelly. Her sons Larry M. Connelly and his wife Linda of Decatur, GA, Donald C. Connelly and his wife Kay of Avondale Estates, GA, and daughter Connie Connelly Bryant and her husband Stan of North Augusta, SC, survive her. She is also survived by six of her grandchildren: Nathan Connelly (Mysti) of Buford, GA, and Ben Connelly of Kennesaw, GA, Jennifer Connelly Petty (Mike) of Springfield, MO, Chris Connelly (Angela) of Roswell, GA, Beth Bryant Baranco (Charles) of Aiken, SC, and Charles Bryant of North Myrtle Beach, SC. Mimi also leaves behind seven great-grandchildren.

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Miriam Hoover Connelly

September 24, 1918 - September 8, 2017