Paula Marie Cargill, born 18 September 1943 in Henrietta NC, Rutherford County, died 18 July 2022 in Greenville, SC. She was the daughter of John Edwin and Mabel Bridges Cargill. She is survived by sister Anne C. Cargill of SC; nephews and nieces: John D. (Erin) Strickland, John R. Strickland, Daniel Strickland, Anne S. Sarber, Samantha Sarber (Reed Whipple), Caitlin Sarber, Elizabeth Sarber and Mandi Strickland, all of AZ; John E. (Cheryl) Cargill II, James D. Cargill, Joseph C. Cargill, Samuel B. Cargill, Kevill (Rebecca) Cargill, Ian Cargill, Morgan Cargill, Evan Cargill, and Jack Cargill, all of NC. She was predeceased by her parents, sister and brother-in-law Eleanor C. and Royce M. Strickland, Jr; brother and sister-in-law John Boyce and Perrie Dene Davis Cargill; nephew Royce M. Strickland, III and his wife Lorrie Schoen Strickland.
Paula resumed her first career in retirement as a French instructor at Senior Action, Inc. Having graduate seminary and university degrees, she served thirty-five years as a SC licensed clinical social worker, long term care administrator and gerontologist, In her private practice, she consulted in long term care facilities, adult day care and rehabilitation. In 1981 she was a CIF exchange geriatric social worker in La Place du Connétable (Dinan, Normandy, France).
While in postgraduate studies at the Institute of Gerontology, University of Michigan, Paula began the first Alzheimer’s caregiver support group in SC—in Greenville and consulted for a Columbia group in 1982— which evolved into SC Alzheimer’s Association. She was a featured presenter and seminar educator on aging and dementia. Paula served on the Board of Directors for SCNASW, SC Gerontological Society, Upstate Alzheimer’s Association and several Greenville County boards as a graduate of the Leadership Greenville Class VII, 1980-81.
Paula was appointed in 1990 by SC Office of Ombudsman to assess seniors who wished to execute SC advance directives. While serving as a hospice grief counselor, she was certified as a facilitator trainer in a national advance care planning program. A career highlight was spending time with Dame Cicely Saunders at St. Christopher’s Hospice, near London, in 1997 while on foreign study with USC College of Social Work—to review programs of dementia in Scotland, aging services in France and to meet this world renowned “Founder of Hospice.”
Paula has been a member of First Baptist Church Greenville since 1975, serving as a deacon and Sunday School teacher, chairing several committees and leading a mission group to Belize in 1987. She was a SBC Missions Consultant and board member of GBA Baptist Women Council and Rolling Green Village. Paula was a 1995 Melvin Jones Fellow of Lions Club International and flutist with Upstate Senior Concert Band. She enjoyed travel, languages and genealogy.
A service of remembrance will be held Saturday, July 30, at 2:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall, First Baptist Church, 847 Cleveland Street, Greenville SC. The link for the live video is https://vimeo.com/731489927 A private burial was held in her hometown cemetery in Cliffside NC. Memorials may be sent to the Cargill-Strickland Scholarship Fund of Limestone College, 1115 College Drive, Gaffney SC 29340.
The Padgett and King Mortuary & Crematory is in charge of arrangements.
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