Rita June McLamb

Rita June McLamb of Little River signed off on her last shift report and has gone to be with her Lord on Wednesday, June 5, 2019. 

The family would like to thank Hospice Care of South Carolina, Hospice nurse Amy Brooks and her compassionate caregivers, Vonna Gengo, Betty Bromell, Yvonne Callahan, Charlene Platt and Joyce Williams.

Born on April 3, 1936, in Ash, N.C., to Layton Ellis McLamb and Stella Mae Bellamy McLamb, Rita knew what she wanted to be from a very young age.  With a heart of compassion, a desire to serve and Florence Nightingale as her role model, she wanted to be a nurse.  She graduated from Wampee High School and later studied nursing at the University of South Carolina Extension at Coastal Carolina and William S. Hall Psychiatric Institute.  She graduated with honors as a registered nurse in 1976, earning the prestigious Outstanding Student Award.  During Rita’s nursing career, she worked at the Medical University of South Carolina where her skills merited her inclusion and was appointed to the trained nurses team for the first ever kidney transplant in South Carolina.

Rita retired from Conway Hospital in Conway as the PM Charge Nurse in the Obstetrics/Gynecology unit.  After retirement, Rita was ready for a new challenge.  She returned to Coastal Carolina where she studied music for a while.  She later studied privately with renowned Maestro, Dr. Lenough Anderson, learning the classical works of her beloved Chopin, J.S. Bach and Beethoven.  Dr. Anderson encouraged her to teach piano which she did for many years.

After nursing, Rita’s other selfless cause was the care of animals.  Purebred or stray, Rita never met a cat she didn’t like or didn’t like her.  She always took care of the strays in the neighborhood, making sure they had food outside, a dry place to sleep and taking joy when they brought their kittens to visit.  Rita was a member of The First Baptist Church of North Myrtle Beach and an uplifting joy to be around.  She was quick to laugh and never was one to put herself first.  Her entire life was devoted in service for others.  She was happiest when she was able to alleviate suffering or pain.

Preceded in death by her sister, Pollie McLamb Moseley, Rita is survived by the joy and jewel of her life, daughter Angela Jean Bird.  She is also survived by her brothers, Thurmon McLamb and Kenny McLamb (Pam); nieces and nephews, Robbie Moseley (Samantha), Ben Moseley, Sabrina McLamb, Ashley McLamb (Johanna) and Kenny Todd (Kimberly); and several great-nieces and nephews.  She is also survived by her loving Ragamuffin cat, Rachel.

The family received friends from 4 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, June 9, in Lee Funeral Home Chapel in Little River.   Services were held at the First Baptist Church of North Myrtle Beach at 1 p.m. on Monday, June 10.  Burial followed at the McLamb Cemetery in Little River.

In lieu of flowers, Rita asks that you consider making a donation to The Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach at: https://humanesocietynmb.org/give/  or Hospice Care of South Carolina: https://hpcfoundation.org/.  Both are wonderful nonprofit organizations and your contribution is tax deductible.

A guest book is available at www.leefhandcrematory.com.

Lee Funeral Home & Crematory of Little River/North Myrtle Beach served the family.