Twice in less than three days, death has entered the McMaster home.

Sunday afternoon, Porter Alexander McMaster, popular attorney, died of pneumonia. Early yesterday morning, Miss Helen Graham McMaster passed away at the Columbia Hospital of the same malady, unaware of the fact that her brother had preceded her to the great beyond.

Services for Miss McMaster will be held at 11 o'clock this morning at her dearly beloved First Presbyterian church, of which she was a lifelong member, and interment will be in the churchyard in the Macfie plat, beside her grandmother, Catherine McGregor Macfie, whose service as a nurse was one of Miss Helen's proudest heritages, and for whose mother, Helen Graham, (whose husband was killed at the Battle of Waterloo), Miss McMaster was named.

Much Beloved

In Miss McMaster's death, a truly noble woman has passed away. Her more than three score and ten years were filled with beautiful deeds, no kindness being too much trouble for her, and Columbia is filled with people who have been befriended by her as she passed their way.With lofty ideals, with staunch allegiance to all that is good and true, with love for God, country and fellow man, Miss McMaster, the Southern gentlewoman, so lived, that Columbia is the better for her life.

She was born 71 years ago in Columbia, in the McMaster home at 1429 Laurel street, where she spent her days. She was the daughter of Col F W McMaster and Mary Jane Macfie McMaster, and was one of 14 children of this union. She first went to Miss Elmore's school, and then to Columbia college, from which she was graduated more than a half century ago. She taught in the primary department of the college and later opened a private school, in which she was eminently successful. However, when the first city schools opened, she went to teach in the public system, but after a short time returned to her first love and continued to give instruction up until about 15 years ago, when her hearing interfered, except for a time spent in North Carolina, where she did a notable work at Mars Hill College. Having gone to Asheville for the climate, Miss Helen heard of teaching needs at an old school in the mountains and so went there-Mars Hill-and through her gracious, charming manner and her zeal for teaching, endeared herself to all. Yesterday, a telegram was received at the McMaster home from the faculty and officers of the present Mars Hill College:
"Our college particularly will stand a living monument, ennobled by the impress of her life."

Fine Teacher

Miss McMaster, recognized as a leader in primary teaching, taught with enthusiasm. She loved it. As far back as the world's fair she went to Chicago to study with Dr Horace Mann, and was one of the first to recognize the Montezorian method. She always included in her teaching "the Bible and the Confederacy." She was the first to suggest a statewide monument to Wade Hampton, and it was she, with Mrs Harriett Crawford Clarkson and Mrs Leora Sims O'Neal, who saved and erected the beautiful shaft which now stands in the First Presbyterian yard as a memorial to the men of that congregation who went to the Confederate war, and to the men of the Confederacy who afterwards came to serve in that church. She was a great admirer of Woodrow Wilson, a family connection, started the movement to save his home in Columbia as a memorial.

Coming along in Reconstruction, Miss McMaster knew Columbia as only the older residents do. The new city rose from the ashes, and she watched it grow. She loved Columbia, and her interest extended to the gardens, to the trees, to the people to the progress of the city, and its citizens. She was a great friend to those in distress, she did so many little kind acts, of which the world knew nothing. When sorrow came, Miss Helen comforted the bereaved with her flowers and her presence.

But with all her varied interests and the many calls made upon her time, she headed the hospitable McMaster home on Laurel Street and was never more delighted than when the house was filled with guests. She was a home-lover, and her flowers and books claimed much of her attention. During late years she had spent many happy hours among the father's valuable papers.

She was a member of the Assembly, and despite her 71 years attended the ball last month. She was interested in the Orphan Society, an organization that does great good. Likewise in the Columbia College Alumnae association, the American Legion Auxiliary, and church organizations.

Much Sorrow

So it will be seen that Miss McMaster's death will bring sorrow far and wide in Columbia. Among those who mourn are her former pupils, and the active pallbearers this morning are from young men who attended her private school: Robert G Childs, Ambrose Hampton, LeGrand Guerry, Jr, F Ehrlich Thomson, Preston E Lyles, Frank E Owens, Robert W Cain, Jack O'Neal, Charles J Cate, Jr, J Quitman Marshall. [A very long list of Honorary pallbearers deleted].

She is survived by three sisters, Mrs James H Woodrow of Rock Hill, Mrs Joseph R Foard of Baltimore and Miss Agnes McMaster of Columbia; by three brothers, Thornwell McMaster, Col George H McMaster, and S B McMaster, all of Columbia, and by the following nephews and nieces: Douglas McKay of Columbia, James H Woodrow McKay of Lexington, NC, Mrs Robert Glasgow of Charlotte, F W McKay of Lexington, NC, Miss Katherine H Woodrow of Rock Hill, F W McMaster Woodrow of Washington, and James Woodrow of Kansas.
The State - February 27, 1930

Following her obituary, there were two tributes which mentioned the history she wrote of her father's regiment, "A Condensed History of Seventeenth Regiment, SC. V-C, S A.