Essie Mae Rutledge

Mrs. Essie Mae Scott Rutledge, daughter of the late John and Carrie Scott and Willie and Sadie Scott, was born on May 13,1955. She departed this life on March 6, 2020 at Colleton Medical Center, Walterboro, South Carolina.  Home-Going Service will be held Friday, March 13, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. at Elizabeth Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, 5710 Ritter Road, Walterboro, South Carolina.  Interment, Church Cemetery.  Bishop Anderson Williams, Pastor and Elder T.C. Smalls, Eulogist.  A public viewing will be held Thursday, March 12, 2020 from 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at Stephens-Maree-Tracy Funeral Home Chapel of Serenity.    

Essie graduated from Robert Smalls High School in 1973. She pursued further education at Webster University earning a Master’s Degree Business in with an emphasis in Health Administration.

She was a faithful member of Elizabeth Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and served on the choir, missionary board, and the Pastor’s Aid Committee, in addition to various church boards and committees. Essie and her husband were later asked to transfer and assist at Greater Refuge Church in Varnville, SC. She was a member of Greater Refuge until she passed. Essie enjoyed working at Colleton County Middle School where she served in several capacities for many years.

Essie was a dedicated and active member of the Delta Iota Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Incorporated for ten years. As a member of the organization, Essie was the current Fundraising Committee Chair and previously held the position of financial secretary. She believed the motto “Greater Service, Greater Progress”.

She is preceded in death by her, stepmother, Carrie Belle Scott, daughter Jamie Rutledge, brother, Franklin Brown, sisters, Elizabeth Scott, Terry LeBlanc, Louretha White.

Those left to cherish Essie’s precious memories: her loving husband of forty-four years, James Rutledge; children Gerard (Monique) Rutledge, Felicia Culley, and Antonio Rutledge; eight grandchildren; Kevona Rutledge, Tykell Gibbs, Andrew Rutledge, Key’Ona Wright, Kahlil Rutledge, Cheyenne Wright, Alexander Culley, Tamara Rutledge, and McKenna Rutledge, and a great grandson; Nasir Gibbs. Siblings; Annie Lee (Leroy) Wittrell, Beulah Scott, Gail Scott, Bonnie (William) Smith, Johnny (Lynn) Scott Jr., M.C. (Deborah) Wright; six sisters-in-law, three brothers-in-law and a host of cousins, nieces , nephews, and friends.  Essie will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

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