Mrs. Betty Shaw Merck

Betty Shaw Merck, 89, went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on June 3, 2023. Betty was the twin daughter of the late Louise Gardner and Bennie V. Shaw of Hartsville, SC. She was a graduate of Hartsville High School and Coker College. She was employed at the Bank of Hartsville until she met the love of her life, the late Lt. Colonel Robert Warren Merck, veteran fighter pilot of the Vietnam and Korean Wars, the Berlin Crisis and years in Pakistan. They made their home in Bishopville, SC after marrying on December 26, 1954, until his death 44 years later. They were blessed with two children. Robert, “Bob” was the rock and Betty was the glue who held the family together. Betty always said her family came first in her life. While in Bishopville, Betty was an active member of First Baptist Church where she sang in the choir for 52 years. She was a member and past President of the Garden Study Club, the Bishopville Jaycettes, the Lee County Music Club and the Lee County Opera House. She was an Accredited Beauty and Talent Pageant Judge for over 30 years. She coached young ladies and directed pageants and festivals across the Southeast. Betty moved to Columbia 8 years after Bob’s untimely death. There she joined Shandon Baptist Church and participated in the Seniors Choir and Sunday School. She was a member of the Symphony League and the Retired Officers Wives Club at Fort Jackson. Betty’s desire was to be remembered as a Christian first, a good wife, a good mother and grandmother, but especially a lady. She desired that all of her family love the Lord and would be reunited one day. Betty was an avid supporter of the Gamecock Club for over 50 years. She thoroughly enjoyed attending all Gamecock Football games even traveling to away games until her health prevented it. Tailgating with family and friends was the highlight of every fall season. She was predeceased by her husband, her granddaughter Chandler Elizabeth Merck, and three brothers Ben, Alex “Buz”, and Billy Shaw. She is survived, and will be greatly missed by her son, Warren Shaw (Kristie) of Florence; a daughter Wendi Lou Wolfe (Dana) of Columbia; four grandsons, Chesley Warren Merck, Taylor Robert (Thea Tollison) Wolfe, Brian Shaw Wolfe, and John Ulmer Wolfe; and numerous nieces and nephews she adored. A graveside service to honor her life will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 8, 2023 in Magnolia Cemetery, Hartsville. The Rev. Lin Kirkman will officiate and the family will receive friends beginning at 11:00 a.m. prior to the service at the graveside. Memorials may be made in her honor to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (https://www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org/) The Directors of Brown-Pennington-Atkins Funeral Home are caring for the family.

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Mrs. Betty Shaw Merck

October 19, 1933 - June 3, 2023