If you’re native to Beaufort, SC, or if you might as well be, you’ve likely met my grandparents, Bill & Marian Youmans.

Bill worked as the Librarian/Media Specialist for most middle schoolers in Beaufort County from the Mid 70s to Early 2000s, having spent 30+ years between Beaufort Junior High, Robert Smalls Junior High, Ladys Island Middle, Robert Smalls Middle, The Humanities School, Battery Creek High and even Port Royal Elementary (when he was “retired” but worked full time for 5 years) .. I may have missed a school or two, as he has always gone where he’s been asked and has seldom said “no” when called upon to help.

My grandmother, Marian, before retirement, worked for many years as a life & health insurance agent, the majority of those years spent with Kinghorn Insurance. Prior to that she worked in banking and as a church secretary.

Both Bill and Marian have belonged to the Baptist Church of Beaufort since they’ve been married and moved back home to Beaufort (after college and Bill’s first teaching job in Spartanburg, SC) to start a family. Bill was a deacon for several years, taught MANY different elementary/middle school grade levels of children’s Sunday School (he has the patience of Job and these are some of my favorite memories, having my “Papa” be the Sunday school teacher!), and ran the sound system and video booth for church services to be televised. The list goes on but is too long to spend time remembering all of the roles he has played as a faithful servant to his church home, and never without a smile, because he was happy to do it ALL.

Marian has been a faithful member of the Choir, her beloved lady’s Sunday school class, Secretary to the Pastor, a nursery teacher, and a leader with the church’s Stephen Ministry following the death of their daughter Jennifer, as she felt led to help others in their times of grieving.

Aside from work and church, Bill and Marian have spent their lives raising and caring for the children in their family. 2 children, 6 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren, any friends of any of their grand girls, children off the street, you name it.

Recently though, Marian and Bill have fallen into a little bit of financial hardship. Between years of funding said children’s endeavors, expensive monthly prescription costs, home repairs, and the general cost of living.. retirement and social security haven’t been enough to make ends meet.

And then— most recently, Marian was diagnosed with Myeloma, which is cancer of the blood. She’s only just been released from Beaufort Memorial after having spent almost a month there, following a fainting episode at home which raised serious concern. Now that she’s home her treatment journey is just beginning. As previously stated, expenses have already been overwhelming, and will only increase from here.

These are two people so humble yet would never ask themselves for your help. If you have any amount to contribute, I know they will forever be grateful and determined to repay you. In times of better financial status they’ve given to so many, and now they are in serious need of the gift of financial assistance. Please consider giving back to those who have given so much. Thank you & God Bless!