BLYTHEWOOD: Beverley Lee Amaker Rivers, 82, of Blythewood, S.C., passed away Saturday, June 30, 2012, at Providence Hospital in Columbia following a lengthy illness. Mrs. Rivers was born Jan. 11, 1930 in Columbia and was the youngest daughter of the late Milledge Lee and Agnes Waites Amaker, and was married 62 years to the late Johnnie Clifton Rivers Sr. She was a member of Spring Valley Presbyterian Church. She graduated from Columbia High School and Clemson University’s Master Gardner program. She loved gardening, was an avid Clemson Tiger fan and very active in the Wade Hampton Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy where she held various offices including President. Mrs. Rivers, along with other committee members of the UDC, spent countless hours copying war-time letters and memoirs from 1861-1865, the reconstruction years and World War I, so they would be preserved for future generations. This valuable collection of history was published in a 12-volume series titled “Recollections and Reminiscences 1861 1865 through World War I.” She was also active in the Republican party of S.C. and served many years as a Precinct Poll manager. Mrs. Rivers is survived by her daughter, Debbie Rivers Bass of Blythewood; sons Cliff (Helen) Rivers of Lexington and Dwayne (Lisa) Rivers of Blythewood. Grandchildren, Lee R. Bass (Mandy) of Darlington; Rhett M. Bass of Blythewood; Amanda Rivers-Grant; Robin and Troy Rivers of Lexington and Vivian Rivers of Exeter, England; Justin Rivers of Greenville; Great-grandchildren, Boyd and Milledge “Mills” Bass of Darlington and Brenna and Eliza Grant of Lexington, and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by her sister, Betty Amaker Sealy and son-in-law, Randy Bass. The family received guests Tuesday, July 3, 2012 from 5 – 7 p.m. at Greenlawn Memorial Park and Funeral Home located at 845 Leesburg Road, Columbia, S.C. A private memorial service was held for the family. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Mrs. Rivers name to Spring Valley Presbyterian Church, 125 Sparkleberry Ln., Columbia, S.C. 29229; Wounded Warrior Project, P. O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kan. 66675, or the American Diabetes Association of SC, 2711 Middleburg Dr., Ste. 205, Columbia, S.C. 29010. She will be remembered as a loving mother and grandmother and will be missed by all who knew her.
