Maria Isabel McLawhorn

Maria Isabel McLawhorn, 86, of Charleston, South Carolina, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family and friends on Wednesday, November 19, 2025.

Born on March 25, 1939, in Coamo, Puerto Rico, she was the daughter of the late Francisca (Febus) and Marcelino Ortiz.

As the eldest of her siblings, Maria embraced responsibility from a young age, caring for her brothers and sisters with dedication and love. In her early adulthood, Maria moved from Puerto Rico to the United States, learning English as her second language. She lived in many places throughout the country including New York, Chicago, San Antonio, San Diego, and more before she ultimately found home in South Carolina for the last 42 years.

Maria lived a life rooted in faith, family, love, and abundant laughter. She found joy in the beauty of the outdoors, often tending to her backyard garden from sunrise to sunset. Her kitchen was a place of warmth, where she delighted in preparing and sharing meals with both family and friends. Maria had a passion for the arts; oil painting, sewing, crocheting, thrifting and restoring furniture, and she filled her home with music—especially the voices of Rod Stewart and Julio Iglesias—often dancing as she listened.

She also adored traveling with her loving husband and best friend, Jesse, where they explored much of the United States and Europe together. Of all the places they went, Barcelona, Spain, her family’s homeland, became her favorite.

She lived a full and blessed life, grateful for every opportunity God placed before her.

Maria was preceded in death by all of her siblings and her parents, Marcelino and Francisca Ortiz.

She is survived by her beloved husband of 31 years, Jesse McLawhorn; her four children: Bill (Martha) Marrero, Frances (Chris) Gigis, Alisha (Thomas) Boggess, and Shawn McLawhorn; ten grandchildren: Marissa, Christian, and Gabriella Gigis, Rachel (Brian) Smith, Hunter Marrero, Megan (Melissa Ventresca), and Ashley Boggess, Courtney (Hayden) Hardy, Megan (Will) Sanderson, and Christian Goodwyn; and four great-grandchildren: Charlie Anne and Coleson Smith, Jordan Boggess, and Amelia Boggess Ventresca.

Family and friends are invited to gather on Monday, November 24, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. at McAlister-Smith Funeral Home, 2501 Bees Ferry Road, Charleston, SC 29414. A service will follow at 1:00 p.m., with burial at Live Oak Memorial Gardens in Charleston.

Expressions of sympathy may be shared online at mcalister-smith.com.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to McAlister-Smith Funeral Home, West Ashley Chapel, 2501 Bees Ferry Road, Charleston, SC 29414.