Emily Remington

Emily Remington, 103, of Mount Pleasant, left
us on July 28, 2020, 24 days before her 104 th
birthday with her two daughters by her side.
Born on August 21, 1916 in Jordan, South
Carolina, Emily was the daughter of the late
Reverend William Olin Henderson and Mittie
Hinnant Henderson.
She was a graduate of Coker College in
Hartsvillle, SC and later studied at Peabody
Conservatory in Baltimore and the Juilliard
School in New York City.
Emily spent her life as a professional musician.
She was Organist/Choirmaster for the former
Grace Episcopal Church now Grace Church
Cathedral in Charleston. She was founder and
conductor of the Singers Guild for the
Charleston Symphony (now the Charleston
Symphony Chorus). The chorus was known for
the presentation of great choral literature, and
the colorful Christmas Concerts for the
Symphony.

She was an Adjunct professor at the College
of Charleston, then later named Assistant
professor. She taught piano, Music
Appreciation, conducting and served as
accompanist for the vocal studios, the College
Choir and many college concerts. A
charitable fund which now supports the
International Piano Series was established in
her name by Dr. William Tate.
Emily served a term as Dean of the Charleston
Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.
She was a member of the Charleston Music
Club. Both of these organizations have a
scholarship in her name.

Of her many activities, she worked with Gian-
Carlo Menotti when the Spoleto Festival
began, accompanying rehearsals and
performances in the first two years. She was
on the original planning committee of the
Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston which
began in 1977. After moving to Franke at
Seaside, she organized the Remington Concert
Series there, in addition to her Christmas and
July 4 celebrations for the residents.

Among her many experiences, she
accompanied artists for the National Opera in
Munich, Germany including James King and
Jessye Norman. While living in Germany, she
was commissioned by the Army Headquarters
in Heidelberg, Germany to be director of the
Protestant Institute of Music held each year at
the General Walker Hotel in Berchtesgaden,
Germany. For this commission she was given
the distinction of 1st star General support.
She presented many workshops and recitals at
American post chapels.
Just last year she was named the second
runner up as Classical Woman of the Year on
NPR’s Performance Today with Fred Child.

Before coming to Charleston, Emily lived in
Augusta, GA and there she served as
Organist/Choirmaster for the Lutheran Church
of the Resurrection. She was the founder of
the Augusta Choral Society in 1951. In 2001, at
the 50 th anniversary, she was named
Conductor Emerita. For many years she taught
at Paine College and at Augusta College (now
Augusta State University). She was a
founding member of the Augusta Chapter of
the American Guild of Organists and also
served as the Georgia State Chairman.

In 1955, Emily had one of the first weekly LIVE
TV shows called In the Music Room where she
played classical piano music with commentary.
She performed many times with the Augusta
Symphony including her favorite piece, The
Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2. Over her
entire career she taught piano and organ to
countless students.

Emily was married to the late Dr. John Wood
Remington, professor of Physiology at the
Medical College of Georgia. She is survived by
her daughters, Porter Remington of Mount
Pleasant and Martha Scharnitzky of Goose
Creek; her two grandsons, W. A. "Andy"
Scharnitzky, III and wife, Jennifer of Daniel
Island and their children, Emily, Matthew and
Andrew; John F. Scharnitzky and his children,
Alex, Samuel and Abigail of Virginia Beach,
Virginia. Emily is also survived by many
members of her extended family.

A private graveside service will be held at
Suttons, SC, the maternal family home. At a
future date, a memorial concert is being
planned to remember her legacy. In lieu of
flowers, memorial contributions in Emily`s
memory may be sent to Lutheran Homes of
South Carolina Foundation, 300 Ministry Drive,
Irmo, South Carolina 29063, 803-749-5110.
https://www.lutheranhomesscfoundation.org.
or any of the other organizations named
above.

Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or
submitted online at
https://www.palmettocs.com.

Arrangements are with the Palmetto
Cremation Society, 5638 N. Rhett Ave, North
Charleston, SC 29406, (843) 722-2555.