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Mary Anne Belcher of Fort Mill, South Carolina, was born on
May 1, 1935 in Troy, Missouri, and went home to be with the Lord on September
30, 2016. She was 81 years old and was the daughter of Robert and Edna Casner.
Mary Anne is survived by her beloved husband of 62 years,
Dr. Richard Paul Belcher, Sr. of Fort Mill, South Carolina; a son, Dr. Richard
Paul Belcher, Jr. and his wife Lu of Fort Mill, South Carolina; a daughter,
Anne Jeanette Gottman and her husband Tom of Springfield, Missouri; a sister,
Mae Martin of St. Louis, Missouri; a sister-in-law, Frances Haley of Troy,
Missouri; five grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. Her mother and
father, sister Jeanette Hamlett (Tom), brother Marvin Handlong, and brother-in-law
Walter Martin, all preceded her in death.
Mary Anne was in banking most of her life, was an
accomplished mortgage loan officer, and was Vice President of Service
Corporation of South Carolina after moving to Columbia, South Carolina from
Missouri. When her mother-in-law needed extra care many years ago, Mary Anne
and Doc took her into their home. Mary Anne faithfully provided the care she
needed for many years until the Lord took Doc’s mother home to heaven. Her
story as a prayer warrior is told in Dr. Belcher’s book, A Journey in
Christian Heritage.
Mary Anne was a big help to her husband in his publishing
business. She typed many manuscripts and after she retired she helped manage
Richbarry Press. She also provided many hours of support for Evangelizing India
for Christ (EIFC). She was a volunteer bookkeeper and also provided secretarial
support for several years as well. She made numerous sacrifices for the work in
India with a willing servant’s heart.
Mary Anne loved working in the nursery at church and served
as nursery coordinator for many years. She also enjoyed singing hymns. After
Dr. Belcher retired from Columbia International University, they moved to Fort
Mill. She also enjoyed crocheting, reading, crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles,
and feeding birds.
Mary Anne was also an excellent housekeeper and a gracious
host. She may have been too gracious of a host, at times, for Dr. Belcher’s
liking, as the following story will illustrate. Dr. Belcher used to pick up
board members at the airport and train station in Charlotte twice each year for
the EIFC board meetings held in Rock Hill. On one occasion, after stopping for
an early lunch, Doc drove a board member he was transporting to his house for a
short visit while he worked briefly on a project with a deadline. Those who
know Doc well know that he has a special love for ice cream. (He used to even
eat ice cream in India, even though they don’t pasteurize their milk, and this
involved a risk of “Delhi belly.”) As the story goes, when Doc came downstairs,
Mary Anne and the board member he left downstairs were enjoying two of his Dove
bars. He used to tell others how great they were. He would say, “D-O-V-E, Dove
bars—you need to try one.” When Doc saw the Dove bars being consumed, he noted,
“Now you know how good they are.” This board member would tease Doc on the way
to Rock Hill from Charlotte for the next few board meetings that he dare not
stop at his house in Fort Mill. Mary Anne was such a gracious hostess that she
would give away all his Dove bars, significantly reducing his inventory.
Mary Anne is greatly missed by her husband, family, church
family, the board of EIFC and many friends. We are looking forward to spending
time with her in heaven and joining her in the resurrection on that great day.
Please continue to pray for Dr. Belcher and the extended Belcher family as they
reorient their lives over the next several years without Mary Anne’s special
presence.
