Obituary of Joan Auld

Joan (Whitford) Auld, 91, died on February 1, 2026, in Sumter, SC. Mrs. Auld was born in Door County, WI. She lost her parents as a young girl and spent most of her childhood in Spencer, WI, raised by her maternal grandmother and step-grandfather, Emma and Jonas Ayer. Mrs. Auld worked her way through high school and college, graduating from Wisconsin State College at Stevens Point in 1956, with a degree in elementary education. She then taught in Marshfield, WI, for 12 years, while also caring for her grandmother.

In 1967, Mrs. Auld married Lawrence W. Auld, and, after finishing out the school year, moved to Sumter, where she raised two children, defeated advanced breast cancer, and ultimately returned to teaching. She retired from Willow Drive Elementary in 1996. During retirement, Mrs. Auld remained a teacher-at-heart, serving as the “first teacher” for her grandchildren, just as she had for her children. She followed with delight their progress in school even while caring for her husband full-time after a fall left him unable to care for himself.

Mrs. Auld belonged to First Presbyterian Church in Sumter, where (with her husband) she taught children’s Sunday school for a number of years. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, her parents, her brother, and her husband. Mrs. Auld is survived by her children and their respective spouses, Patricia Auld Leasure and husband, John H. Leasure, of Sumter, and L. Patrick Auld and wife, Dixie T. Wells, of Greensboro, NC, as well as her grandchildren, Alexander Whitford Leasure of Atlanta, GA, Brice E. Leasure of Columbia, SC, and Zoe K. Auld of Washington, DC.

The family thanks the caregivers of Prisma Hospice and Visiting Angels for the care they provided to Mrs. Auld, so that she could remain in her home during the final weeks of her life. The funeral will be at First Presbyterian Church in Sumter, on Saturday, February 7, at 2:00 pm. with the Rev. Dr. Stewart Rawson officiating. Burial will follow in Sumter Cemetery. The family will greet friends and family in the church parlor before the service beginning at 1:00 pm and at Mrs. Auld’s home on Friday  between 3:00 pm and 6:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, those so inclined may consider making a donation to First Presbyterian Church, 9 W. Calhoun Street, Sumter, SC 29150, or to the Joan Whitford Auld Future Teacher Scholarship at the University of Wisconsin—Stevens Point at https://give.uwsp.edu/g/cps-giving-page (type “Auld” into the search bar) or by check made payable to UWSP Foundation, 2100 Main St. Suite 134, Stevens Point, WI 54481 with #8226 in the memo line.

Online condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com

Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad Street, Sumter, is assisting the family with final arrangements (803) 775-9386.