On December 12, 2025, at the age of 94, Joan Carter McKissick, of Summerville, South Carolina, joined her beloved husband, John, in Heaven.
The family will welcome any who wish to attend her Celebration of Life Service on Saturday, December 20th, at 2:00 PM. The service will be graveside at Summerville Cemetery (Park’s Cemetery), 640 Boone Hill Rd., Highway 17-A South. Following the service, the family will also receive friends from 3:00 – 4:30 at the John McKissick Museum, 805 South Main Street, Summerville (right next to the stadium).
Joan was born on March 20, 1931, in Lamar, SC, to Earl and Edelle Carter, and was the first of three children (brother, Bud and sister, Linda). She moved to Kingstree, SC as a young girl and graduated from Kingstree High School in 1949. She also attended Coker College in Hartsville, SC, where she earned an Associate Degree in Business Education.
Joan met, fell in love with, and married John McKissick in Kingstree in June of 1952. Later that summer, because John took the job as Head Football Coach at Summerville High School, they moved to Summerville and spent the rest of their lives enjoying the warm and friendly feel of their hometown. Joan spent 30 years as a mail carrier, delivering mail all over Summerville, and she especially liked meeting and getting to know the people she served. She was actually the first female mail carrier in South Carolina and was celebrated in a parade when she retired.
Joan enjoyed reading (mostly books from Timrod Library), playing bridge with friends, and dancing (especially if she was shagging to beach music). More importantly though, she cherished the opportunities that she was given to serve her church and her community. She was a longtime member of Bethany United Methodist Church, serving as a Lay Leader, President of United Methodist Women and the Hazel Melia Circle, coordinating their Sesquicentennial Celebration, and working with a committee to compile the church history. Community activities included serving as a Dorchester School District Two School Board member, a Sculpture in the South Board member, a Preservation Society Board member, a CSU Women’s Council Board member, and as a Flowertown Garden Club member.
Joan was very active in her support of her husband’s 63 year coaching career, missing only 4 games during his tenure. She stayed busy compiling scrapbooks that chronicled each and every season and kept detailed records of his coaching career. She also coordinated the annual football banquets and parent nights, and was a founding member of the Summerville High School Hall of Fame.
Joan was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years (John McKissick), her parents (Earl and Edelle Carter), and her brother (Bud Carter). She is survived by her sister, Linda Slaughter, her daughters, Debbie Call (Rick) and Cindy McElveen (Donny), four grandchildren, Richard Call (Erika), Joe Call (Elizabeth), Kyle York (Alan), Donny McElveen, III (Katie), 9 great grandchildren, Carter, Libba, Emily, John, Mayley, Mary Carter, Gracie, Bobby, Meyers, and several nephews.
Joan loved flowers, but she also loved to support her community, so memorials may be made to the (1) Summerville High School Athletic Club, Inc. c/o McKissick Memorial Football Fund, Post Office Box 2966, Summerville, SC 29484, (2) Timrod Library, 217 Central Avenue, Summerville, SC 29483-6004, or a charity of your choice.
The family would like to express their gratitude to The Village at Summerville for the kindness and care they have given her this past year. They would also like to thank Agape (Hospice) for caring for her during the final days of her journey. Both The Village caregivers and nurses as well as the Agape team made a very difficult time more bearable.