Martha Stuart Weir Stevenson

Lake Wateree Martha Stuart Weir Stevenson of Great Falls, SC, community volunteer, church leader, and entrepreneur, passed away peacefully at her home on Lake Wateree, surrounded by her children and grandchildren, early Saturday morning, June 17, 2023, after a battle with cancer. She was 69. The fourth child of Stuart Atkinson Weir and L.S. “Eel” Weir, Martha was born on May 11, 1954, in Chester and was raised in Great Falls, from where she would never stray far. Graduating from Great Falls High School in 1972, she followed her parents’ footsteps to Erskine College; but not long after, at age 19, she married the love of her life, Michael Stevenson, and followed him to Clemson and then to Johnston, SC where Mike had his first job and where their first child, Shannon, was born in May of 1975. Within a week of becoming parents, the young couple returned to Great Falls for Mike to begin work with Martha’s father at Weir Fuel Company. Their son Stuart was born in December of 1976, but before long, with the two children in tow, Martha went to work for the family business where she would play an active role in all aspects of company management for over 40 years. Shortly before their son Kendrick was born in March of 1981, Mike and Martha purchased a convenience store, the EZ Mart, in the heart of Great Falls. Operating both the store and the family fuel, concrete, and hauling business, Mike and Martha began the process of taking over the company from her parents in 1984 and formed Stevenson-Weir. For nearly two decades she simultaneously managed Stevenson-Weir, Weir Fuel, convenience stores, and other properties all while raising her children and attending all their school and sporting events. She would continue to manage, and counsel, her growing family of Stevenson-Weir employees, up through her retirement in 2016, when she turned over the reins to the next generation – her three children, Shannon, Stuart, and Kendrick. She maintained an advisory role and owner of Stevenson-Weir until the time of her passing. All through her life, Martha was devoted to the community of Great Falls and gave back to her hometown in many ways. She was a consummate party planner and was blessed with her mother’s knack for creative decorating of all kinds of events, including Christmas decorations for the town of Great Falls, church events, the Lions Club, and many more. She was a participant in school PTA, serving as President once, a scout leader, assistant in the early years of the Flopeye Fish Festival, helped with the Great Falls High School Athletic Booster Club, and was elected Highway Commissioner for Fairfield County. She was active in the Great Falls Empty Stocking Fund, served on the Republic Credit Union Board, member of the Garden Club, and was an active fundraiser for a variety of community organizations. As a devout Christian and a lifelong Great Falls Presbyterian Church member, she served as a Sunday school teacher, youth leader, Vacation Bible School organizer, Session member, and eventually became an Elder. It has been said many times that her easy-going positive nature made anyone, and everyone, feel welcome, and that she would give the shirt off her back and a couch to sleep on, at any time. She truly was a friend to all. She also had the gift of making gatherings of friends, especially for her children and grandchildren, special and magical experiences. Her talents in needle pointing were legendary and many beautiful pieces adorn her home and those of her family and friends. She enjoyed traveling, was a talented gardener, a decorator, and a fun-loving “Aunie” to her eight grandgirls. Martha is survived by her husband of 49 years, Thomas Michael Stevenson of Great Falls; her three children, Shannon Stevenson Houck (Bobby) of Mt. Pleasant, SC; James Michael Stuart Stevenson (Carol Ann), and Thomas Kendrick Stevenson (Ashley) both of Rock Hill, SC; 8 granddaughters: Kaitlyn, Nora, Charlotte, Ann Wallace, Alex, Charlie, Claire, and Quinn; a sister Linda Giltner (Joe) of Flat Rock, NC; a brother, Sam Weir (Fran) of Shelby, NC; in-laws, Carlisle Stevenson (Becky) of Lancaster, SC and Janie Dukes (Corbey) of Atlanta, GA; a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins; her best friend, Kathy Raines; several “near” children and her family of Stevenson-Weir employees and others whom she loved, counseled and took into her home often through her life. She was predeceased by her parents and a sister, Margaret Weir Revels. Martha requested that there be a Celebration of Life, a casual gathering of friends and family, with a call for everyone to wear bright colors and enjoy each other’s company. This celebration will take place at 7:00 pm on Friday, June 23, at the Catawba Falls Event Center, 4223 Cedar Creek Road, Lancaster, South Carolina 29720 (www.catawbafallsevents.com), which will conclude, at her specific request, with fireworks at 9:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations given in her memory be made to two organizations that are near and dear to the Stevenson family: GRASP, the Great Falls Referral and Assistance Service Project (www.graspcrisisrelief.com, or checks to GRASP, PO Box 424, Great Falls, SC 29055); Miracle Park of Rock Hill (www.miracleparkrockhill.com/donations, or checks to The York Disabilities Foundation, PO Box 37021, Rock Hill, SC 29732). Online condolences may be made to the family at www.dantzlerbakerfuneralhome.com.