Cathy M. Curtis

Mary Catherine “Cathy” Melfi Curtis She Never Met a Stranger—Only Future Friends

Mary Catherine Melfi Curtis—Cathy to all who had the good fortune to know her—passed away on April 18, 2026, at the age of 77 after a long and determined battle with cancer. She left this world from the place that felt most like her own small corner of heaven: “Willie’s Whistle Stop,” her beloved home on Sullivan’s Island, where the quiet rhythm of island life and the soft Lowcountry light held her story.

Born on July 28, 1948, in Charleston, South Carolina, Cathy was a daughter of the Lowcountry in every sense—shaped by its easy charm, its close-knit communities, and its sense of place.

A proud graduate of Bishop England High School (Class of 1966) and the Medical University of South Carolina School of Nursing (1970), Cathy built a life defined by both intellect and heart. Early in life, she embraced new places and formed lasting friendships wherever she went, always meeting each chapter with excitement.

She is survived by her children, W.R. Scott Curtis, III (Melanie), Emily Klotz (James), and Katie Williams (Sean); her brother, S. Harvey Melfi; and eleven grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Leonard Melfi and Sarah Harvey Melfi; her sister, Sally Richardson; and her brother, Leonard Melfi, Jr.

Being a mother was one of the great joys of Cathy’s life. She filled her home with creativity, celebration, and steady love—helping with school projects, planning joyful birthdays, and making everyday moments feel special. Later, with characteristic determination, she earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Hampton University and became a nursing instructor, eventually co-authoring award-winning study guides that helped future generations of nurses.

Drawn back to the Lowcountry, Cathy returned to Sullivan’s Island, where she rekindled old friendships and made new ones with ease. She loved walks on the beach, lively games shared with friends and family, ice cream at the window, and any gathering that brought people together. She had a gift for turning simple moments into something worth remembering.

Cathy never met a stranger—only future friends. Her warmth was immediate and genuine. Whether singing in the choir at Stella Maris Church, delivering Meals on Wheels, volunteering at The IOP Exchange Club, donating to The Neighborhood House, decorating her golf cart for Fourth of July parades, or calling just to ask, “What are you doing?”—she lived with joy and invited others to share in it.

A devoted Catholic, teacher, mother, and friend, Cathy was a steady, radiant presence in the lives of many—a kind of warm light that made people feel at home. Her legacy is one of love and laughter, carried forward by all who were lucky enough to know her.

A Wake will be held Tuesday, April 28, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at McAlister-Smith Funeral Home in Mount Pleasant with Rosary Service at 6:00pm and SC Nurses Honor Guard at 6:16pm. The Mass of Christin Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at Stella Maris on Sullivan’s Island.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to McAlister-Smith Funeral and Cremation – Mount Pleasant, 1520 Rifle Range Road, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464, 843-884-3833.