Reatha Mae Lingard

Retha Mae Lingard, affectionately known as Candi, was born on September 27, 1950 in Colleton County to the late Ben and Adline Heyward Lingard. Surrendered this life on December 28, 2024, at her residence in Ruffin, South Carolina surrounded by her family.

Retha was educated in the public schools of Colleton County. At a young age, she attended Sykes Savannah United Methodist Church. Her work then being farm work, in 1970, after having her first son Frederick, she relocated to Bronx, New York and began working as a seamstress in a factory making curtains and comforters. While in New York, she met the love of her life, the late John V. Cardenez. To this union her second son Jeffery was born. They later moved back to South Carolina making Ruffin their home and becoming a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, in Ruffin, South Carolina.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John V. Cardenez; four brothers, Harold, Bennie, Jessie and Mondell Lingard; six sisters, Queen Ester and Betty Jean Lemon, Inez Dubois, Bessie Lemon, Eunice Hall and Mary Sanders.

To know Retha is to love her. She leaves to cherish her fondest memories, two sons, Frederick Lingard of Port Orange, Florida and Jeffery Lingard of Summerville, South Carolina; sister, Reba Lawton of Ruffin, South Carolina; a niece, April Lingard Wright of Las Vegas, Nevada; nephew, Christopher Lingard of Summerville, South Carolina who was raised in the home; loving and devoted friends, Ms. Janie Snipes of Ruffin, South Carolina and Ms. Sandra Mitchell of New York; a special niece and caregiver, Charlene Williams of the home; close family friends, Steven Writesel of Ruffin, South Carolina and Joseph R. Carbone of Port Orange, Florida and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

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