Eva “Tootsie” Witherspoon Coward, 87, wife of Mendel A. Coward, passed away Thursday, May 16, 2019, at Prisma Health Tuomey.

Born June 28, 1931, in Lee County, she was a daughter of the late George W. Watkins and the late Eva Watson Watkins. She was retired from Santee Print Works.

Survivors include her husband; a son, Steven M. Witherspoon, Sr. (Brenda) of Sumter; three step-daughters, Wendy Barfield, Sheila Towery, and Robin Beasley; two grandsons, Steven M. Witherspoon, Jr. (Rebecca) of Summerville and Jeff Witherspoon of Sumter; three great-granddaughters, Kaylee, Linley, and Maggie Witherspoon; and a sister, Ella Mae Branham of Ashwood.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, J. Norwood Witherspoon.

A graveside service will be held at 11 A.M. Saturday in the Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery with the Rev. Donnie Witherspoon officiating.

The family will receive friends following the graveside service and other times at the home of her son, 791 Pitts Rd.

Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.