Gail Vareen Perry

MBHS Class of 1960

October 30, 1943 - March 19, 2014
 

Gail V Perry, 70, of Myrtle Beach, died Wednesday, March 19, 2014. She was born to the late Arthur and Leona Vereen, Oct. 30, 1943, in Conway, SC. Gail graduated from Myrtle Beach High School in 1960 and attended the College of Charleston. She married the late Phillip Perry in 1962. Aside from a short two year stint when Phil was in the Army and stationed in Germany, Phil and Gail lived together in Myrtle Beach for their entire married lives. Gail was an owner of Lakewood Camping Resort and has been an active Board Member since 1995. She was beloved by all of Lakewood's employees and customers alike. She was considered by many to be the kindest, most generous employer for whom they had ever worked. She was also an owner and Board member for Beachwood at the Heritage and an owner in National Golf Management Company. In 1976 she and her husband Phil founded High Steppin' Country, Myrtle Beach's longest running show, and she continued to act as Executive Producer for HSC until her passing. Prior to Gail's ascension to the Board of Lakewood, she was a homemaker, business manager, and community leader. She was the President of the South Carolina Jaycee-ettes in 1972-73. She was also a member of the Eastern Star organization. Gail's philanthropy, both personal and professional, is well known. Her support for the Arts in SC was extensive. She was instrumental in helping make Horry County School's theatrical productions rise to a professional level. She loved Brookgreen Gardens and was a major financial supporter there for decades. There was never a soul who asked for, or needed help for whom Gail did not come to the rescue. Gail was a strong woman of faith and was a member of First Baptist Church of Myrtle Beach. One of her favorite activities was her weekly Bible Study meetings and her daily devotions. Gail loved to travel and had visited most of the countries of Europe. She visited England and Ireland, road tripped across America with her best friend, and cruised to Alaska with her mother. She would tell you that her favorite place in the world was Green Turtle Cay, Bahamas at her brother Wayne's house. She also had a home away from home sitting atop a mountain in the middle of the Great Smokey Mountains. Gail is survived by her children Blayne Perry, Tony and Rhonda Perry, Karla Mauldin, Melanie Abston, and Michael Abston, and her brother Wayne Vereen, sister-in-law Linda Vereen, son-in-law Brian Mauldin, brother and sister-in-laws Barbara and Marion Benton, Don and Angela Perry, and Shan and Gary Gomer. She is also survived by her grandchildren Anthony Perry, Austin Perry, Courtney Mauldin, Taylor Perry, Abigail Perry, Zach Perry, Phillip Mauldin, and Grace Mauldin.  She is further survived by her extended family of life-long BEST friends Becky Bannon, Donna Stack, Bud and Jackie Smith, Esther Gilden, and Mary-Kate Allen. Gail was blessed to be able to call every person she ever met a friend. She was loved. She leaves behind, perhaps, a gazilian friends… A visitation will be held from 5- 7 p.m. Friday, March 21, 2014 at McMillan-Small Funeral Home. The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 22, 2014 at First Baptist Church of Myrtle Beach, with burial following at Ocean Woods Cemetery. An online guestbook is available at www.msfh.net.