Mason Alexander Obituary

Mason Gardner Alexander CHARLESTON - Mason Gardner Alexander was a remarkable and talented gentleman who lived a full life. He died June 1, 2025. He approached death in faith, with the sure knowledge that Jesus Christ is our Lord and savior. Mason was born September 11, 1932, to Margaret Gardner and James Mason Alexander. After graduating from Christ School, Mason attended the Cornell University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Hotel Administration. Mason was in ROTC at Cornell for four years. Upon graduating, he joined the US Army, serving first at the Richmond Quartermaster Depot as a club officer and a food service officer, where he honed the skills learned at Cornell. He was transferred to Ft. McNair, where he worked at the National War College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. After leaving active duty, Mason moved to Spartanburg, SC to manage the Cleveland Hotel. In Spartanburg, he met Frances Sparkman Satterlee. Of his many accomplishments, the most important was marrying Frances on November 22, 1958. Mason was recalled to active duty in 1961 during the Berlin Wall crisis. Upon discharge, he returned to Spartanburg and changed careers, joining the Citizens and Southern National Bank of SC (C&S). Mason steadily rose through the ranks, becoming Executive Vice President of Consumer Banking. Throughout his career, he performed his duties and responsibilities in a professional and innovative manner. Mason was well respected within the profession, eventually serving as the president of the Consumers Bankers Association. In 1983, Mason accepted a position at First Federal Savings and Loan of South Carolina managing its Retail Banking Division. Mason retired in February 1994 from First Federal and almost immediately went to work as a troubleshooter for a publishing company that owned small town newspapers across the country. Mason had the foresight to advise the owner to get out of the newspaper business shortly before that industry collapsed. Mason was generous, giving his time, talent, and treasure to several charitable and nonprofit organizations, the most important being the Kanuga Episcopal Conference Center, Moldova World Children's Fund, St. Mary's School in Raleigh, NC, and Still Hopes Episcopal Retirement Community. He served on the vestry and as the Senior Warden of St. Martins in the Fields Episcopal Church in Columbia, SC. Mason taught his values to his children, Mason Gardner Alexander (Mary) and Capers Alexander Grimball (Frank) and to his grandchildren, Margaret A. Thompson (Will), Henry Y.S. Alexander, J. Mason Alexander (Jake), F. Heyward Grimball (Paige), N. Harrison Grimball (Greg) and Frances S.G. Gouldin (Davis), all of whom he loved dearly. Mason also adored his seven great-grandchildren. Frances was the love of Mason's life and his best friend. They were a dynamic couple who worked together as a team. People knew, if something needed to be done, to ask them to do it. In retirement, they traveled extensively, making friends wherever they went. Mason's funeral will be held at 3pm on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at the Chapel at Bishop Gadsden Episcopal Retirement Community (1 Bishop Gadsden Way, Charleston, SC 29412), to be followed by a reception at Bishop Gadsden. He will be buried at 11 am on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at Trinity Cathedral (1100 Sumter St., Columbia, SC 29201). Mason's last request is for any memorials to be made to the Kanuga Episcopal Conference Center (130 Kanuga Chapel Drive, Hendersonville, NC 28739) or The Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul (126 Coming St., Charleston, SC 29403).