Anne Walser Edens Evins Rainey passed away at the age of 85 in Asheville, North Carolina, on February 2, 2025, after a protracted illness.
Born on May 13, 1939, in Columbia, South Carolina, Anne was the youngest daughter of Jane Gibbes Edens of Columbia and Henry Harmon Edens of Clio, South Carolina. She attended St. Mary’s College and the University of South Carolina, where she majored in English. Anne raised three daughters, nurtured many strong friendships, and was a master gardener and leader in the conservation movement. She served as president of Columbia Green, a non-profit dedicated to improving and preserving the natural beauty of her home city and to educating the public about our environment. As chair of the Palmetto Conservation Foundation, Anne was a founder and a driving force for initiating the 500-mile Palmetto Trail from the mountains to the coast of South Carolina. Anne was a generous, strong, and fun-loving person, a warm and devoted friend, and an inspiring and loving daughter, mother and grandmother. She loved spending time at Pawley’s Island.
Anne leaves her daughters Anne Eden Evins of Concord, Grace Gibbes (GiGi) Evins and wife Katherine Sloan of Asheville, and Julia Jamieson (Jamie) Evins of Oxnard, California; grandchildren Heloise and Henry Evins-Mackenzie, Beck Evins, and Murray McCosh; niece Jane Mason Hawley and nephews Chauncey Hawley and Chip Edens; and many devoted friends from all aspects of her life.
Relatives and friends are invited to gather for a memorial service for Anne at 2 p.m., Thursday, April 17, at Pawleys Island Chapel, 391 Myrtle Avenue, Pawleys Island, South Carolina. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Anne’s memory may be made to Concord Land Conservation Trust, 175 Sudbury Road, Concord, MA 01742.
