DATELINE: Lake View, S.C.

Wanda Carol Mercer
October 24, 1950 – September 19, 2024

Wanda Carol Mercer, known as “Mercer”, was born and raised in Lake View, SC where she was an outstanding high school athlete and cheerleader. She attended the University of SC Florence and graduated from Francis Marion College in 1973. Mercer lettered in Tennis, the only women’s sport at the time, was the statistician for the Men’s Basketball Team and a member of the campus newspaper staff and student government association.

A graveside service will be Friday, October 25, 2024, at 2:00 pm at Lake View Cemetery.

Mercer dedicated 33 years to the students of Darlington High Schools where she taught Social Studies and coached the Girls Tennis Team. She cared deeply for her students who appreciated her “up front” teaching and disciplinary style. You always knew where you stood with Mercer whether teaching, coaching or umpiring. Her compassion extended to the community organizing a very successful, now 46-year, student food drive for shut-ins each Christmas, serving thousands over the years. Always the teacher, she said that the students benefited as much as the recipients from the program.
While working for the City of Florence Recreation Department in the summers Mercer helped organize the very successful Girls Softball program and honed her umpiring skills, rising to the top of that profession as well. Her 33-year umpiring career began as chief umpire for Friendship Park in Florence advancing to 12 National Youth Tournament assignments including a 1991 tour to Russia and Sweden to introduce youth softball to those countries. She was also selected to umpire 16 men’s, women’s, and co-ed National tournaments including the 1991 and 1998 Women’s World Series. For her accomplishments, Mercer was the first umpire ever elected to the USSSA Softball Hall of Fame.

Mercer was an avid Clemson fan and a perfectionist in all that she tackled, playing tournament golf, just for fun. Retiring to Lake Marion in 2010, she was always surrounded by a variety of friends and acquaintances. Mercer was just as comfortable mentoring young people as she was at the local watering hole or card table. If dynamite comes in small packages, Mercer was TNT. She was funny and loved to laugh. Beneath that gruff exterior was the softest heart and touch imaginable. Whether a stray dog or stray kid, no one was marginalized when Merc was around. Fiercely loyal, if you were her friend, you were her friend for life.

Mercer was predeceased by her parents Ed Mercer and Alice Leggett Mercer Worsham and half-brother Steven Worsham. She is survived by her sisters, Paula Mercer Entwistle and Debra Mercer and nephew Robbie Riley. In lieu of flowers, Mercer would prefer donations to TLC (The Lord’s Table) of Darlington, the Clarendon County Humane Society or your favorite charity.