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SC couple married 40 years died of COVID-19 on same day, leaving 14-year-old daughter
A South Carolina couple who loved to play Santa and Mrs. Claus at events in their town died Sept. 5 of complications from COVID-19, leaving behind a 14-year-old daughter.
David and Lora McManus of Pageland were married 40 years.
Their deaths were announced on Tuesday by government officials in Union County, N.C., where Lora McManus, 59, worked in the Public Works customer service office for more than 20 years. David McManus, 64, was a pulp wood logger and trucker, according to his obituary.
The couple loved trips to the mountains and visiting two North Carolina traditions: the Christmas lights display in McAdenville, “Christmas Town USA,” and the Old Threshers’ Reunion in Denton, according to Ashley Terrell, who manages the Union County office where Lora McManus worked.
David McManus also liked cooking and watching cooking shows, while his wife enjoyed mystery movies and the Hallmark Channel, according to his obituary.
But Lora and David McManus most loved their daughter, Sara, Terrell wrote on the Union County government website.
“Nothing brought Lora as much joy as her daughter,” Terrell said. “Lora waited a long time to become a mother and she relished in every second of motherhood. She loved to talk about Sara and brag on how well Sara can sing.”
Lora McManus “was a believer in Jesus Christ and she lived her faith,” Terrell said. “Lora never had a negative word to say about anyone or anything. She found the positive in every situation.”
Terrell said Lora McManus was “selfless and giving” and had “an infectious laugh and sense of humor” that caught her co-workers off guard.
She also was “a historian of all things Public Works,” Terrell wrote. “Customers frequently asked for Lora. She just left an impression. She was dedicated, loyal, and will be sorely missed.”
In an open letter on the Union County website, County Manager Mark Watson urged people to “please keep Lora’s family members and loved ones, especially her daughter Sara, in your thoughts and prayers.”
“I know this is hard news to receive and devastating to all of us,” Watson wrote to county employees, mentioning the free counseling and wellness support available through the county’s employee assistance program. “It’s a benefit that is much needed in times like this.”
A Celebration of Life graveside service was held for the couple on Tuesday at Five Forks Cemetery in Pageland.
In lieu of flowers, donations toward care of the couple’s daughter may be sent to David McManus’s sister, Brenda Sullivan, at 268 Cato Heights Lane, Pageland, SC 29728.
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