Charleston native and philanthropist Martha Rivers Ingram dies at 90

Martha Rivers Ingram, a Charleston native, prominent business leader, philanthropist and longtime supporter of the arts whose vision helped bring about the Charleston Gaillard Center, died Thursday, Aug. 6. She was 90.

Born in Charleston in 1935, Ingram attended Ashley Hall before graduating from Vassar College in 1957. She began her career working with her father at Charleston-based WCSC radio and television before marrying E. Bronson Ingram and moving to Nashville in 1961. Following her husband’s death in 1995, she became chairman of Ingram Industries, one of the nation’s largest privately held companies.

Ingram became one of Nashville’s most influential supporters of the arts and education while maintaining strong ties to her hometown. She served on the board of Spoleto Festival USA and was instrumental in the development of Charleston’s Gaillard Center. The idea for the $142 million renovation came from Ingram, whose vision was to create a world-class performing arts facility in Charleston.

Charleston Mayor William Cogswell called Ingram “one of its most devoted daughters” and credited her with helping establish Charleston as a major cultural destination. “Her vision gave us the Charleston Gaillard Center, a world-class home for the performing arts that exists today because she believed this community deserved nothing less,” Cogswell said. He also praised Ingram’s commitment to making the arts and arts education accessible to children throughout the Lowcountry.

Ingram also served as chair of Vanderbilt University’s Board of Trust from 1999 to 2011 and supported numerous cultural institutions during her lifetime. She is survived by her four children, Orrin Henry Ingram II, John Rivers Ingram, David Bronson Ingram and Robin Bigelow Ingram Patton, as well as her grandchildren and other family members. A funeral service is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 14, at St. George’s Episcopal Church in Nashville.