Charlotte Newton Obituary

Charlotte Rae Chastain Newton passed away peacefully on September 27, 2025, at Upstate Community Hospice House, surrounded by her family. She was 88 years old. Charlotte was born on May 16, 1937, in Mountain View, SC, and was a daughter of Joe Kelcy and Kathleen Miriam Stewart Chastain. She is survived by three sons and their spouses, Dr. David Newton and Rev. Karen Kagiyama of Carrollton, GA., Glen Newton of Mountain View, SC, and Stephen and Alison Newton of Anderson, SC; and two grandchildren, Kelcy Hannah Webster and her husband, Mitch Webster, of Seattle, WA, and Rachel Caroline Newton of Carrollton, GA. She is also survived by her sister, Frieda Ann Chastian Liston of the Mountain View Community and her family; her brother-in-law, Harold Mays Newton, of Covington, GA, and his family; and her sister-in-law, Nancy Leath Chastain of Lexington, SC; as well as many nieces, nephews, and other loved ones. She was preceded in death by her parents and by her brother, William Kelcy Chastain. Charlotte attended Mountain View School and graduated from Blue Ridge High School in 1955, where she was captain of the women's basketball team and homecoming queen. She attended Berea College in Kentucky for two years and then transferred to Furman University, where she graduated in 1959 with a degree in Health and Physical Education. That same year, she married Norris Smith "Buck" Newton. She later received her master's degree in Elementary Education from Clemson University. A life-long educator, Charlotte first taught physical education at Greenville Junior High School. For over thirty years, she taught physical education and third- and fourth grades at a number of elementary schools in Greenville County, including Sans Souci, Duncan Chapel, Travelers Rest, Arrington, and Slater-Marietta. Her former students fondly remember her as a devoted and caring teacher. She was awarded Teacher of the Year three times, twice at Arrington and once at Slater-Marietta. She worked almost every year with student teachers from Furman. A life-long member of the United Methodist Church, Charlotte taught Sunday school, sang in the choir, served as a youth leader, organized and led a Summer Day Camp for children, chaired church committees, served as a lay delegate to the UMC annual conference, and was certified as a UMC Lay Speaker. Charlotte also volunteered in many other ways to serve others in the community, including Meals on Wheels, Upstate Hospice, and as a tutor at Mountain View Elementary School. Above all else, Charlotte was devoted to her family. She raised three sons and helped to raise two granddaughters, who were the light of her life. She cherished Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays spent with her immediate and extended family of aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews. She also loved to travel and spend time with her circle of female friends. Her favorite place was the beach, and she spent many happy days at Harbor Island, SC, watching birds and sea turtles. A service of remembrance will be held on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel at Thomas McAfee Funeral Home, 6710 White Horse Rd, Greenville, SC. The family will receive friends at the funeral home prior to the service, from 12:30 p.m. until 1:45 p.m. The service will be officiated by the Rev. Karen Kagiyama. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Charlotte Rae Chastain Newton to the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) by mail to 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue NE Building A, Suite 1 Atlanta, GA 30308 or by visiting https://www.umcor.org or other charities at your discretion. Friends are encouraged to share their favorite memories of Charlotte with the family by clicking on the button labeled "Share A Memory".