Ellen Little Lesesne died February 18, 2016. A graveside service will be conducted on Sunday, February 21, 2016 at 2 p.m. at New Market Cemetery, Highway 375, three miles south of Greeleyville, directed by Williamsburg Funeral Home. The family will receive friends at New Market, across the highway from the cemetery, following the service.

She was born July 21, 1918 in Louisville, GA., the daughter of Augustine Patterson Little and Laura Lee Little.

She was a 1938 graduate of Agnes Scott College. After graduation from Agnes Scott, she was a service representative for what was then Southern Bell in Atlanta and Augusta, GA. After the United States declared war in December 1941, she joined the United States Navy and was commissioned as an officer in the WAVES. In 1943, she met the love of her life, Louis LeMaire Lesesne, while they were both serving as officers in the Navy. They were married October 21, 1943.

Ellen and Louis moved to Kingstree, SC, in 1946, where the two of them became pillars of that community. She worked for years as bookkeeper and office manager for Swain Construction Co. In 1961 they moved to Louis’ family’s home outside of Greeleyville, SC.  Louis died in 1996, and in 1997 she moved back to Kingstree, where she continued to live until she moved to the Presbyterian Home in Lexington, SC, in 2005.

During her 59 years in Williamsburg County, she freely gave of her time to many community organizations. In 1993 she was named Humanitarian of the Year for Williamsburg County, in recognition for her work in organizing Hospice of Williamsburg County. She received the Norah Jones Volunteer of the Year Award in 2003 from Tidelands Hospice. She was a charter member and volunteer of the Kingstree Hospital Auxiliary for 29 years. A former member of Williamsburg Presbyterian Church, she had belonged to McDowell Presbyterian Church in Greeleyville for 36 years. She held positions of leadership in the Women of the Church on the church and Presbytery levels at both churches, while also teaching Sunday School and Circle lessons. She was given a Life Membership from the McDowell Presbyterian Church in recognition of her years of service. She had been an active member of American Legion Auxiliary Post # 8, Daughters of the American Revolution, Margaret Gregg Gordon Chapter, and Board Member and Volunteer with Hospice, board member of WRH Endowment, and longtime member of the Tuesday Afternoon Bridge Club. In 2004 she was named Woman Veteran of the Year for South Carolina by the American Legion Auxiliary of South Carolina.

She is survived by their three children: Louis L. Lesesne, Jr., and his wife Tamara of Charlotte, NC, Laura L. Lesesne, of Columbia, SC, and Katherine F. Lesesne, of Greeleyville, SC. She is also survived by five grandchildren: Emily Bingham, and her husband Walter, of Mount Pleasant, SC, David Lesesne, and his wife Kristen, of Camden, SC, Dr. Laura Patterson Smith, of Hartsville, SC, and her husband Travis. Carlen Weselovs and her husband Jason, of Charlotte, NC, and Rebecca Lesesne of Charlotte, NC, and by three great-grandchildren: Emma Louise Bingham, Eleanor Bingham and Kellen Weselovs.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorials be sent to Williamsburg Regional Hospital Foundation, PO Box 568, Kingstree, SC 29556, Agnes Scott College, 141 E. College Ave., Decatur, GA 30030, or to a charitable organization of the donor’s choice. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.WilliamsburgFuneralHome.com