Mary Grace (Swett) Donaldson

Blenheim, SC

Mrs. Mary Grace (Swett) Donaldson, 96, passed away Sunday, September 25, 2022, at Dundee Manor in Bennettsville, SC.

Born February 21, 1926, in High Point, NC, she was the third child and first daughter of Lowry and Grace Lawson Swett, a family that grew to include four sons and three daughters. In 1932, the family moved to Marlboro County where Mary Grace was to live the remainder of her life in the Blenheim and Bennettsville communities she loved. She grew up during the Great Depression and World War Two years. She recalled those years as being a time of hardship and great uncertainty. However, as a member of a large and loving family with caring and thoughtful neighbors, the happy and joyous times far outweighed the difficult times. Mary Grace attended the Blenheim Grammar School and Lower Marlboro High School, where she graduated as Valedictorian in 1943. Shortly after high school graduation, Mary Grace began work as bookkeeper and office manager with a local company. Her salary went to family needs, and she helped pay tuition for her sisters to attend business-college in Charlotte. She worked all her life until retirement. She held jobs in accounting, office administration, banking, and the U.S. Postal Service where she retired as Postmaster of the Blenheim Post Office in 1989. In all her endeavors, family always came first ahead of herself. Mary Grace married John T. (Sonny) Napier in 1946. They were married for 40 years until his death in 1986. In 1996, she married Clarence Donaldson, a long-time acquaintance. They were married for 10 years until his death in 2006. Mary Grace was noted for her intellect, marvelous sense of humor, and positive attitude. She was a Christian woman and was very active in church work for many years until advancing age slowed her. She was kind and generous to a fault. Although Mary Grace had no biological children, she loved her nieces and nephews as if they were her own. Above all, Mary Grace was a wonderful daughter, great sister, devoted wife and homemaker, a wise and loving aunt, and loyal and trusted friend. And, in being all these things, she was always a lady.

Mary Grace was predeceased by her brothers, John Albert Swett, Lawson Swett and Lee Swett, sisters, Dorothy Phillips and Roberta (Bobbie Ann) Black.

Mrs. Donaldson is survived by her brother, Charles Allen Swett of TN; her niece, Beth Allen (Eddie) of Blenheim, SC; nephews, Mark Black (Becky) of Pageland, SC, Jeff Black (Lynn) of Marion, SC, and Harold Black, Jr. of Blenheim, SC and many other nieces and nephews.

A graveside funeral service will be held at 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 27, 2022, at Drake-Dudley Cemetery in Blenheim.

The family will receive friends immediately following the service at the cemetery.

Burroughs Funeral Home is honored to assist the Donaldson Family.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mary Grace (Swett) Donaldson, please visit our floral store.