Mary Bull McLain Benton

Mary Bull McLain Benton, widow of E. Roy Benton Jr., died on August 30, 2024. She was born in Spartanburg, S. C. on September 10, 1934, the daughter of William Clare Bull, Sr. and Hessie Travis Bull and moved to Columbia at an early age. She attended the Columbia city schools, graduated from Dreher High School and attended the University of South Carolina where she was a member of Kappa Delta sorority, Beaux Arts and a representative to Student Council. She was employed as Broker with Lachicotte, Howard and Grimes Real Estate Company in Pawleys Island, S. C. for several years and retired from Bank of America in Columbia. She was later employed with the Development Office at USC and afterwards at Richland County Public Library.

Before moving to Greenville in 2011, Mrs. Benton was a faithful member of Eastminster Presbyterian Church in Columbia for many years serving not only as deacon but also as an officer in her Sunday school class, her circle and the Women of the Church.

She was a Master Gardener, a member of the Colonial Dames and a former member of the Junior League of Columbia. She was most recently a member of First Presbyterian Church, Greenville.

She was first married to Robert Sinquefield McLain, Sr. of Greenville. She is survived by her children, Mary McLain Scales and her husband, Charles Wriston Scales III, Clare McLain McMahan and her husband, Kevin Weston McMahan, Robert Sinquefield McLain, Jr. and his wife, Tamah Hall McLain, all of Greenville and Campbell McLain Dancy of Pawleys Island.

Eleven Grandchildren – Charles Wriston Scales, IV (Amy), Sinquefield McLain Scales (Pearce), Andrew Bull Scales (LeeAnne), Clare Lasater Jackson, Daniel Fitzhugh Lasater (Alicia), Madison McLain Frisbee (Kurt), Campbell McLain Howayeck (Hunter), Robert Sinquefield McLain, III (Olivia), Lachlan Gordon Dancy, Julia McLain Dancy, Mary Campbell Dancy, eight great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, her brother, William Clare Bull, Jr. and her sister, Harriette Bull Dunn. Inurnment will be at Eastminster Presbyterian Church Memorial Garden in Columbia.