Frances Virginia Thomason Vick Whitmire

Frances Virginia Thomason Vick Whitmire, age 96, of Travelers Rest, passed away on June 9, 2015, at The Cottages at Brushy Creek in Greer where she had resided for the past five years.

Born in Lexington, North Carolina, she was the daughter of the late Jesse James Thomason and Carlie Bell Harrison Thomason.

Mrs. Whitmire was twice married, first to the late James E. Vick (30 years) of Vick’s Jewelry, Travelers Rest, then to the late Wayne W. Whitmire (31 years), of Marietta.

Mrs. Whitmire was the first female County Treasurer of Greenville County, and served a total of 37 years in the treasurer’s office: 22 years as Clerk-Accountant, three years as Deputy Treasurer, and three terms (12 years) as elected County Treasurer of Greenville County.  She attended business school in North Carolina and graduated from the University of South Carolina’s Institute for Finance Directors, Clerks, and Treasurers.

Mrs. Whitmire’s professional and other activities include: President and Secretary/Treasurer of SC Auditors, Treasurers and Tax Collectors Association, Board Member and Treasurer of SC Association of Counties, Governor and President of Greenville Legal Secretaries Association, “Greenville Legal Secretary of the Year,” Travelers Rest Business and Professional Women’s Association “Woman of the Year,” Travelers Rest First Baptist Church Sunday School Teacher (23 years), Finance Committee, Adult Choir, and Chairperson of Missions Committee, Worthy Matron and Secretary of Travelers Rest OES #205 (15 years), Director and Treasurer of North Greenville County Food Crisis Ministry (16 years).

Family members include two daughters:  Margaret Ann Vick Balding (Jerry) of Greer, and Shirley Marie Vick O’Neal (Marvin) of Bluffton, five grandchildren: Tambra Hill (Charles Cox) of Greer, H. Jerry Balding, Jr. (Marilyn) of Stephenville, Texas, Susan-Marie Balding of Greenville, Marvin H. O’Neal III (Amanda) of Patchogue, New York, and Eric Thomason O’Neal (Katie) of Orlando, Florida, as well as eight great-grandchildren and two sisters, Peggy Brooks of High Point, North Carolina and Sarah English (Wayne) of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Whitmire is predeceased by a daughter, Margaret Ann, six brothers and two sisters.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on June 20, 2015 in the sanctuary of Travelers Rest First Baptist Church, Travelers Rest.  Family will receive friends in the sanctuary one hour prior to the memorial service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Travelers Rest First Baptist Church, 20 McElhaney Rd. Travelers Rest, SC 29690.