Nell Brittain Irick

ELLOREE - Nell Elizabeth Brittain Irick of Elloree, widow of William Green Irick, Sr. died Thursday, July 12, 2012 at the home of her daughter and son-in-law in Santee, South Carolina after a courageous five-year battle with ovarian cancer. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 14, 2012 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Elloree with Pastor Paul Hirth officiating. Burial will follow in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery. Pallbearers will be grandsons Will Irick and Charlie Carpenter; and nephews, Major Carl McCoy, Tommy Irick, Blake Brown, Ronnie Banks, Ladd Harrelson, Dr. Kenny Rosefield. Visitation will be held at Avinger Funeral Home in Holly Hill on Friday, July 13, 2012 from 6 to 8 p.m. and at other times at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Richard Lee Carpenter, Jr. in Santee. Mrs. Irick was born in Dillon County in the community of Smithboro on October 20, 1928, the only daughter of Katie Conoly Brittain and James Charlton Brittain, Jr. Throughout her youth she was a devout member of Mullins Presbyterian Church, and was an avid horsewoman owning a chestnut brown Tennessee Walker, who had 20 different gaits. She was graduated from Zion High School in 1945, attended Flora McDonald College and was graduated with a bachelor's degree in home economics from Elon College in 1949. She began a long career in education at Denmark High School. At the completion of that school year, she accepted a position at Elloree High School. Mrs. Irick met her future husband and love of her life, Will, shortly after moving to Elloree. After a three-month courtship they were married on December 20, 1950 at Mullins Presbyterian Church in Mullins, S.C. After teaching home economics for several years, Mrs. Irick obtained her certification in elementary education. She taught sixth grade in Elloree until 1961, and later taught the third and fifth grades at Ellis Avenue School beginning in 1963. In 1968 she became a pioneer in the field of special education in South Carolina teaching the educable mentally handicapped at Ellis and Sheridan schools in Orangeburg until her retirement in 1989. Mrs. Irick was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Elloree, where she taught youth and adult Sunday School for 58 years, and was a member of the choir for 50 years. She was also a member of the Lottie Felder Circle. In addition to her love for her church Mrs. Irick was a member of numerous organizations including Eutaw Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, where she served as Regent and as District Director of the South Carolina Daughters of the American Revolution, NSDAR. She was also a past state president of the Children of the American Revolution, and past president of Delta Kappa Gamma Society, as well as state president of Alpha Eta State, Delta Kappa Gamma. Her great love of books led her to the Mentor Book Club in Elloree, which she joined in 1951, and was a past president, vice-president, treasurer and active member until her health prevented her from participating. In keeping with her love of history, Mrs. Irick became a docent at the Elloree Heritage Museum, and served in that position until her health failed. After her retirement, Mrs. Irick was able to indulge her great love of cooking and spending time with her children and grandchildren, for whom she loved to prepare wonderful meals and special desserts. She leaves behind two sons: William Green Irick, Jr. of Elloree and Ewart Conoly Irick and his wife, Gaye, of Orangeburg, and a daughter, Elizabeth Irick Carpenter and her husband, Dr. Richard Carpenter of Santee; five grandchildren, Rachel Conoly Carpenter, Laura Grace Irick, Katie Harley Carpenter, William Brittain Irick and Charles Richard Tapp Carpenter. And a number of nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her younger brother, James Conoly Brittain. Memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 487, Elloree, S.C. 29047.