Margaret Ann Kerr

Margaret Ann Kerr, 87, long time resident of Johns Island, South Carolina passed away on Friday, June 9, 2017. She was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church on Johns Island, actively involved in several activities including their music ministry and their Thanksgiving baskets for the local community.

She was born on September 1, 1929 in Charleston, South Carolina, daughter of the late Anna Theresa Tully Kerr and the late Basil Rahall Kerr.

Margaret Ann graduated from Bishop England High School, Roper School of Nursing, and Catholic University. Devout in her Catholic faith, she served as Sister Mary Basil, OLM with the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy as a nurse at St Francis Xavier Hospital and as Director of Nursing Education at St Francis Xavier School of Nursing until 1968.

Recognized as an expert in nursing practice, she then focused her career on the education of future generations of nurses at the Medical University of South Carolina College of Nursing. If asked how she would want to be remembered Miss Kerr might say “through the health of my patients and the successful careers of my nursing students.” She received many awards and honors throughout her career, which include the SCNA Excellence in Nursing Education, Trident Nurses Excellence in Nursing Education, numerous MUSC Golden Lamp Awards, College of Nursing, SC League for Nursing Excellence in Nursing, And SCNA Excellence in the Promotion of Nursing Practice. Upon her retirement as Professor Emerita in Nursing at the Medical University of South Carolina, two scholarships were established in her honor, one with the National League for Nurses for graduate students seeking to advance their careers as nurse educators, and the second at the MUSC College of Nursing in her name for a current BSN student with financial need, demonstrated academic success and active interest in student activities and clinical nursing.

Margaret Ann was a beloved and cherished daughter, sister, aunt, and friend.

Besides her parents, Margaret was predeceased by her brothers: Francis B. (Van: Lynn, Charlotte, Francis, Robert, Ellen, Marianna), Robert C., and Basil J. Kerr (Jeanne: Basil, William, Suzanne, Brian, David, Christopher).

Margaret Ann is survived by her sister: Rose Mary Kerr Bouvette (John-dec: Jeanne, Rosanne –dec, Johnny, Theresa, Evangeline, Pierre, Robyn, and Angela) and brothers: John A. “Jack” (Virginia: Jay, Angela, Ellen-Nora), James J. “Jimmy” (Harriet: Jamie, Lisa), and Richard H. Kerr. She was much loved by 25 nieces and nephews, and numerous grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

Maria Cardenas, a former nursing student of Margaret, was a beloved friend.

The family wishes to acknowledge and thank Evelyn Brown for the care and kindness shown to Margaret, especially in these last weeks.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, June 11, 2017 from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM, with a rosary at 6:30 PM. at McAlister-Smith Funeral Home West Ashley Chapel.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 am on Monday June 11, 2017 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 3871 Betsy Kerrison Pkwy, Johns Island, SC, 29455, with Monsignor Charles Rowland. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, James Island, South Carolina.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Margaret Ann Kerr Scholarship at MUSC Foundation, 18 Bee Street, MSC 450, Charleston, SC 29425 or online at http://academicdepartments.musc.edu/giving/get-involved/ways-to-give. Please make your check payable to “MUSC Foundation” and write The Margaret Ann Kerr Scholarship on the memo line.

Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted to www.mcalister-smith.com.

Arrangements entrusted to McAlister-Smith Funeral Home, West Ashley Chapel, 2501 Bees Ferry Road Charleston, South Carolina, 29414, 843-722-8371.