Joan Taylor Caughman

Joan Taylor Caughman passed away peacefully at her home on May 16, 2018.  She was born on December 11, 1928, in a house near Lexington, SC, which was removed to build Lake Murray. She was the older daughter of William Kenneth and Ola Warner Taylor.

Joan graduated from Batesburg-Leesville High School in 1945.  She earned a degree in Business Administration from Winthrop College in Rock Hill, SC, in 1949. In the fall of the same year, Joan and Hubert McKendree Caughman were married in Wittenberg Lutheran Church, where they both remained active members throughout their lives. Joan and Mac were the parents of four children: Myrna Caldwell (Toney) of Edisto Island, Elwanda Lorick (Larry) of Batesburg-Leesville, William Caughman (Ginger Outen) also of Batesburg-Leesville, and Selena Player (Dean) of Pawleys Island. Their seven grandchildren are Marc Caldwell of Mt. Pleasant, Jennifer Lorick Spradley of Batesburg-Leesville, Ken Lorick of Batesburg-Leesville, Cynthia Caughman Vannoy of Daniel Island, Will Caughman of Atlanta, GA, McKendree Player Lambert and Taylor Player Soper, both of Pawleys Island.

When her youngest child was two, Joan began to teach typing at BLHS. That job led her to fulfill requirements for teacher certification. She continued teaching business courses, establishing computer/office occupation classes, serving as Department Chair and earning a Master of Education degree from the University of South Carolina. She served as president of SC Business Educators in 1983-84, and was named SC Business Educator of the Year in 1989-90.

When Mac began to suffer the debilitation of Alzheimer’s disease, Joan devoted herself to his care, managing to provide for him at home until his death in 1998. Afterwards, Joan sought to find a life without Mac. She remained focused on her family which grew to 12 great-grandchildren who called her “GG”. She gave many hours to Wittenberg, establishing an Alzheimer’s support group, working for Christian education, promoting a new pre-school, and contributing her expertise to the building program. She returned to oil painting and researching her family’s genealogy. She also worked part-time at The Attic Gift Shop.

In addition to her four children, their spouses, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Joan is survived by the husband of her sister Melba, Joseph W. Holt, and their sons, Stephen and David Holt and their families.

The Funeral Service will be held at Wittenberg Lutheran Church, 233 North Lee Street, Leesville, SC  29070, on Saturday, May 19, 2018, at 3:00 PM with visitation at the church, prior to the funeral at 1:30 PM.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Wittenberg Lutheran Church, designated for the pre-school. Gifts may be made online at www.wittenbergleesville.org or to the Alzheimer’s Association or the charity of one’s choice.

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