Paige Pooser Merrill

Paige Pooser Merrill, 56, passed away on the morning of Sunday, October 25, 2026, following a courageous nine-month battle with ALS. She leaves behind a remarkable legacy as a devoted wife and mother, a compassionate healthcare professional, and a woman whose strength, energy, and unmistakable personality made her unforgettable.

Her Funeral Service will be 1:00 PM, Thursday, October 29, 2026, at St. Michael's Anglican Church, 71 Broad Street. Burial will be in the churchyard. A Reception will follow in the St. Michael's Parish Hall.

Born in Bamberg, South Carolina, Paige was the daughter of Marsha Hinson Pooser and Walter Kirkland Pooser, Jr. She grew up in Cameron, South Carolina, and went on to earn degrees from Converse College and the Medical University of South Carolina. After completing her education, she settled in Charleston, where she built her career, raised her family, and made a lasting impact on her community.

Paige devoted more than 30 years of her professional life to occupational therapy, specializing in the care of premature and developmentally delayed children. For 25 years, she worked as a pediatric occupational therapist in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), helping care for the most fragile and vulnerable children and supporting their families during life's most difficult and uncertain moments. Through her dedication, skill, and compassion, she touched thousands of lives and made a lasting difference for the children and families she served. Her commitment to helping children extended beyond her work at MUSC. Together with her husband, John Denver Merrill, Paige owned and operated Pluff Mud Children's Therapy, a provider of pediatric occupational and physical therapy services. Through this shared endeavor, they combined their professional passions and commitment to helping children grow, develop, and thrive.

While Paige's professional accomplishments were significant, her greatest pride was her family. She was a devoted wife to Denver and the loving mother of Wilson McGregor Merrill (24); Elizabeth McLean Merrill (22); and James Cooper Merrill (17). Paige had remarkable energy and a way of keeping life moving. She was a true taskmaster, rarely without a list of things to accomplish and a plan for getting it all done. She was always on the go, moving from one task to the next, making sure every detail was handled and everyone had what they needed. Her lists were more than a way to stay organized; they were part of how she approached life-with purpose, determination, and an unwavering commitment to getting things done. Those who knew her best will forever remember her go-go-go spirit and her incredible ability to make things happen.

Paige had a presence that was entirely her own. Her jet-black hair was unmistakable. She was beautiful, confident, and unforgettable, leaving an impression on everyone fortunate enough to know her. She also knew how to enjoy life's simple pleasures. Paige loved a good book, working out, traveling, and spending time on the water. She found joy in cooking and baking sourdough, walking her dog Ringo, and sharing a good pasta dish and chocolate martini with the people she loved. And no account of Paige would be complete without a mention of an ever-present Diet Coke and what some might call "colorful" language.

Paige is survived by her husband, Denver; her children, Wilson, Lizzie, and Cooper; her parents, Marsha and Kirk Pooser; and her siblings, Alison Bullard and Walt Pooser. She will be deeply missed by her family, friends, colleagues, and the many children and families whose lives she touched throughout her career. Her legacy lives on in the work she devoted herself to, the family she helped shape, and the countless lives made better because of her.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be considered in Paige's memory to either of the following organizations: Compassionate Care ALS, P.O. Box 1052, West Falmouth, MA 02574 (www.ccals.org) or to Welch Community Hope, 422 Palm Street, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 (www.welchcommunityhope.org).

Arrangements by James A. McAlister, Inc. (843) 766-1365.