Ruth Taylor Weaver, better known as Sissy, died peacefully on May 29, 2023. She was born March 9, 1963, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The third of four children, she was the only daughter of Sylvia M. and George K. Weaver. Sissy grew up as an outgoing child who loved being on the water, especially fishing. She was also an outstanding tennis player who rose through the ranks of SC youth tennis to become the #2 ranked player in the state.

She moved to Columbia, SC, as a young adult and attended Midlands Technical College where she served as the president of the student body in 1987. After her graduation from MTC, she worked for SCE&G as an electrical engineering technician. She continued to play tennis, started playing golf, and began building a wide network of friends. She joined Toastmasters and became president of the Two Notch branch of this group. She sang in the choir of Shandon Methodist Church. She worked at Rosewood Market, becoming friends with many of the customers and learning the names of most of them. Sissy's outgoing personality and dry wit drew people to her everywhere she went, and many of the friends she made during her 20s and 30s became a second family that carried her throughout her life and her death.

Sissy returned to school and graduated from USC in 2004 with a degree in Biology, and later worked at SC-SHARE and the Commission on the Blind. She was a mental health services consumer advocate, active participant in NAMI, and was trained as a peer counselor in mental health rehabilitation. In this capacity she traveled the state, speaking to mental health professionals and community members about rehabilitation. She also served on the boards of NAMI-SC and the Mental Health Association-SC. Sissy attended national conferences as a spokesperson for the rehabilitation movement in mental health and served on the board of directors of Work in Progress.

Sissy's most recent job was at the downtown YMCA where she worked for eight years, opening the front door at 5 AM most weekday mornings and welcoming the early arrivals by name. She was well-known to these members for her readiness to provide assistance and encouragement during their workouts. When Sissy became ill, the Y staff and members maintained contact with her, visiting and supporting in numerous ways until her death.

Sissy loved music and the outdoors. She was warm and funny, developing deep connections with those she loved. She died as she lived, with humor, and courage, and perseverance. She will be greatly missed.

Sissy is survived by a large family including Ken and Lori Weaver of Belhaven, NC; Marty Weaver of Concord, NC; Kos and Kelli Weaver of Nashville, TN; Vicki Flerx of Gilbert SC; David and Lisa Flerx of Lexington, SC; Wendy Flerx and Chris Sample of Columbia, SC; and numerous nieces and nephews. Sissy is also survived by an extraordinary family of friends in the greater Columbia area. Everyone who loved Sissy wishes to thank her dear friend, Lill Mood, for providing extraordinary care during the final months of Sissy's life.

A private service for Sissy will be held at Moonrise Farm where she spent many hours and where she was, as she said, "her truest self." Those wishing to honor Sissy with contributions can do so with honorariums to NAMI SC, PO Box 1267, Columbia, SC 29202 (namisc.org); The Women's Shelter, 3425 North Main St., Columbia, SC 29203 or, Lutheran Hospice Midlands, PO Box 805, White Rock, SC 29177 (lutheranhomessc.org).