RD201902

In fact, Southern out-

lived Molly by several

years and had her buried

in her yard. But she con-

tinued to worry about

animals, especially

those that were home-

less. When she died, she

left half her $8.4 million

estate to the Greenville

Humane Society—even

though she’d never had

any direct contact with

the organization—and

the other half to the

Community Founda-

tion of Greenville, which

distributed the money

to organizations that

benefit early childhood

education and special

education for children.

She also left money

to various friends and

family.

“It’s a wonderful surprise to wake up

and find a very unassuming woman

who cares greatly for our community

and its children,” said Susan Shi, PhD,

founder and chair emerita of the In-

stitute for Child Success, a recipient of

$25,000.

Southern’s wealth also came as

a shock to most who knew her. She

lived in a modest town house and got

around Greenville in a gray 1980s-

model Cadillac. Her money came from

a few shares of stock left to her by her

husband, who had died in 1983. She

added to that through the ’80s, if only

to feather a nest for others to use.

“What’s exceptional is she didn’t

spend it on herself, and she was able

to accumulate a lot of money that

she wanted to direct to her dearest

charities,” Bob Morris, president of

the Community Foundation, told the

Greenville News. “I haven’t met a lot of

people like that.”

Did their generous natures help

Southern and these other extraor-

dinary givers live so long? It’s pos-

sible. Studies have found that people

who are charitable, whether it’s via

The Teacher

Margaret Southern left $8.4 million to

the Humane Society and education causes.

76 february 2019

Reader’s Digest