Landscape

field guide

LANDSCAPE

Location Lake Moultrie

Photographed by Dottie Rizzo

Testing the early- morning-waters of Lake Moultrie in Pinopolis, SC

field guide

ELIZABETH DONEHUE

“Meet Elizabeth... arbiter of social graces. Passionate volunteer with a heart for hospitality and cultivating community. She lives in Summerville with her husband and three boys."

Who Should Attend

If you knew the deceased, attending is an opportunity for you to remember their life and pay your respects. If you did not know the deceased but are close to the family, then it is a way for you to show them your support. You should not attend a funeral if you feel that your presence will make the family uncomfortable or if it is clearly a private event.

Clothing

As a general rule, conservative dress is the best choice for funerals. Suits for men and dresses for women are always appropriate. Historically, persons dressed in black to symbolize the period of mourning. While some choose to honor this tradition, it is not required. A good general practice is to stay away from brightly colored or highly decorative patterns.

Punctuality

Arrive 10-15 minutes early. The first and second rows of seats are typically reserved for members of the immediate family. All other attendees should sit in the remaining rows. If you arrive late, quietly take a seat in the back for minimal disruption. Once you are seated, it is important to remain so for the duration of the service.

Smartphone Use

Cell phones and smartphones should be turned off or completely silenced during the service. Do not use them until you have departed the event entirely.

Signing The Guestbook

Simply write your name and, if you wish, your relationship to the deceased. You may feel inclined to write a note of condolence, but this is not the place to do so.

Speak To The Family

After the service has concluded, express your sympathy and condolences. If you do not know the family, simply introduce yourself and give a brief explanation of how you knew their loved one. Keep your comments brief and sincere,

ETIQUETTE

Saying Goodbye

If ever there were a time for decorum to be upheld, it is at a funeral service. Every family is different, and what may be protocol at one funeral may not apply to another. However, certain social guidelines are universal.

such as “I’m so sorry for your loss." If you do not have an opportunity to speak directly with the family, you should follow up by sending a card. A sympathy note is also the ideal place to share your favorite memory of the deceased.

Flowers, Gifts, and Charitable Donations

You should not feel obligated to bring a gift to a funeral service, though sending sympathy flowers can be a nice gesture. If you decide to gift flowers, this should be done in advance. A local florist can help you coordinate the delivery of the flowers accordingly. In some cases, it may be more appropriate to donate money to a charity that the deceased was passionate about. Oftentimes, a list of charities will be included in the obituary or funeral announcement.

The rules of etiquette ease us through challenging social situations. Knowing the etiquette guidelines around funerals can help you feel more comfortable and provides an element of order that comforts the loved ones of the deceased. AM

James A. Dyal FUNERAL HOME

Full funeral and cremation services. Serving the Lowcountry since 1963. 303 South Main St. Summerville, SC (843) 873-4040 / jamesadyal.com

Dorchester Memory Gardens

Mausoleum • Cremation Gardens • Urn Niches Beautifully landscaped and perpetual care.

11000 Dorchester Rd. Summerville, SC (843) 871-8080 / dorchestermemorygardens.com

Lowcountry Monuments

Offering a wide variety of marble, stone, and bronze memorials accepted in all area cemeteries. We can also provide many statuary options for private garden or cemetery display.

11000 Dorchester Rd. Summerville, SC (843) 871-2016 / lowcountrymonuments.com

field guide

Renaissance Woman

Alice Ravenel Huger Smith (1876-1958 , a leader of the Charleston Renaissance, immotalized the beauty and history of the Carolina Lowcountry and helped propel the region into important destination for cultural tourism.

The Exhibits

Opening on

March 1, 2021

and continuing through

January 5, 2022 Middleton Place National Historic

Landmark and the Edmondston-

Alston House

in downtown Charleston, SC will jointly mount a special exhibition of works by Alice Ravenel Huger Smith in connection with the launch of a beautiful accompanying book, Alice: Alice Ravenel Huger Smith, Charleston Renaissance Artist.

A Southern Experience

"Alice" is a personal account of the artist's life and work that draws on unpunblished papers, letters, and interviews. It is enriched by over 200 illustrations of paintings, prints, sketches, and photographs, many shared for the first time. This hardcover volume about Alice Smith is both an important contribution to Southern art scholarship and a gorgeous addtion to the bookshelves of art and history lovers.

Published by Evening Post Books in collabaration with The Middleton Place Foundation, net proceeds from the sale of the book benefit the foundation's mission to inspire, educate, and enact positive change through an understanding of American History.

Works of Heart

Select works from the book and accompanying exhibits

Fields Prepeared for the Planting

Miss Josephine Smith in Oak with Peacock

View Overlooking Butterfly Lake and Mill at Middleton Place

Trees Over Marsh

The Coming of Night at Kecklico