Mary Ella Webb Quinn

Mary Ella Webb Quinn was born on April 27, 1924, in Whitestone, South Carolina, to Marshall Herbert and Edna Ruth Griffin Webb and grew up on farms in Whitestone and Boiling Springs. Marshall and Edna raised their ten children to be kind, thoughtful, hard-working people.

Mary was an excellent student and loved school. Her path to teaching was formed in the fourth grade when she learned that teachers were paid. In her young mind she thought, All this fun, and you get paid too! I’m going to be a teacher. Mary’s parents were tenant farmers on the Finch Farm in Boiling Springs, and money was scarce, but they valued education and encouraged her dream of going to college.

In 1941, Mary graduated from Boiling Springs High School. To pursue her dream of becoming a teacher, she attended Textile Industrial Institute (TII), which later became Spartanburg Methodist College. While at TII she participated in a work-study program where she went to school for two weeks and worked at Dixie Shirt Factory for two weeks. World War II was in full swing, and Dixie Shirt Factory was responsible for making woolen shirts for army uniforms. After completing her freshman and sophomore years, Mary continued her work at Dixie so she could save money to attend Winthrop College. Mary transferred to Winthrop and graduated in 1946 with a degree in Home Economics. 

In the fall of 1946 Mary started her teaching career at Blackstock High School, and in 1947 returned home to teach at Boiling Springs High School. On December 25, 1947, she married Eldred William Quinn who was studying Agricultural Engineering at Clemson College. After finishing the year at Boiling Springs, Mary and Eldred moved into married student housing at Clemson. While Eldred worked on his degree, Mary taught school and coached basketball at Keowee High School.

Eldred’s graduation from Clemson led to work with Case Tractor Company and they lived in Georgia and Alabama. They enjoyed living there and meeting new friends and colleagues but missed their families, so they returned to South Carolina in 1960. Mary went back to Boiling Springs to teach Home Economics and coach basketball. She convinced Eldred to get his teaching certification, and he joined her in Spartanburg District Two. In 1986, both Mary and Eldred retired from teaching at Boiling Springs High School.

Mary lived to be 101 years old and attributed her longevity to clean living, a healthy diet, and gardening in country air and sunshine. As a former Home Economics teacher, she strongly advocated eating fresh fruits and vegetables, especially Spartanburg peaches.

On January 18, 2026, Mary died peacefully at her home in Spartanburg. She is survived by her sister Gayle Nunamaker. She was predeceased by husband Eldred William Quinn, Sr., her brother Willam (Bill) Webb and her sisters Lucille Webb, Edna (Babe) McAbee, Doris Seay, Betty Pruitt, Virgina Ward, Louise Thompson, Patrica Smith, and grandson Martin Dean Oliver. Mary will be greatly missed by her children Sheila Jane Quinn Oliver, Eldred William Quinn, Jr. (Cathy), John Anthony Quinn (Suzanne); by her grandchildren Sam Earle Oliver, III (Megan), Russell Griffin Oliver, Brittany Bershae Quinn, Mary Catherine Quinn Maxey (Glenn), and Courtney Marie Quinn; and by her great-grandchildren Glenn William Maxey, Coby Alan Maxey, Tommy Quinn Maxey, brother-in-law Jack R. Quinn (Martha), and scores of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Family and friends were the joy of Mary’s life, and she loved them deeply. Her friend Cecelia (Cil) Hawkins was especially dear to her heart. The family is forever grateful to Cil.

Visitation will be held on January 23, 1:00-2:00 PM, at Fairview Baptist Church (1551 Bryant Road), followed immediately by the funeral service and interment in the Fairview Baptist Church Cemetery. 

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.