Linda Caines Tompkins

She was born February 19, 1943 in Charleston, South Carolina to parents William Richard Caines and Claudia Youmans Caines. She was raised in Beaufort, South Carolina and loved the low country all her life; so much that she and her husband Linn lived in Beaufort for ten years enjoying their many friends and the gentle, southern way of life.

Linda was the wife of Linn Shecut Tompkins, Jr. for 33 years. Together they were blessed with a large, loving family. Linda was predeceased by her parents, her husband Linn, her sister Jean Caines Gilmore, her brother R. Allen Caines and her stepson Linn Shecut Tompkins, III (Jiggs). She is survived by her daughters, Cynthia Tompkins Willcox (Whit), Paige Tompkins Hornsby (Spencer); stepsons, Richard Sims Tompkins (Libby), Charles Boyle Tompkins, Joseph Paulling Tompkins (Sally); daughter-in-law, Myda Rogers Tompkins; sister-in-law, Virginia T. McLaurin (Roy); brother-in-law, H. Alexander Gilmore; nephews, Alan K. Gilmore, R. Read Gignilliat (Carla); nieces, Gill M. Gignilliat, McIver G. Williamson, Leigh G. Pound (Kit); her good friend and house keeper, Valerie McCellan; and her thirteen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Linda was a member of Saint Joseph Catholic Church, a former member of the Murphy Guild, and a member of the Saint Joseph women’s society. She also served as chairperson for “Food for the bereaved” and was on the decoration committee during the holidays for many years. She was a former board member of Keep America Beautiful program, a member of the Historic Beaufort Foundation and the Columbia Historic Foundation. She was a volunteer reader at Saint Joseph Elementary School, an active member of the Dental Wives Auxiliary of the South Carolina Dental Association and the Gay Gardeners Garden Club.

Linda loved her family, her many friends, her church and she adored her thirteen grandchildren; Richard Sims Tompkins, Jr. (Pamela), Margaret Paulling Tompkins, William Rush Tompkins, Marion Tompkins Steffans (Charlie), Jace Tompkins Bagwell (Ally), Patrick Devereux Tompkins (Perry), Joseph Griffith Tompkins, Mary Josephine Tompkins, Anna Paige Cooper (Cameron), Lynn Marie Tompkins, Virginia May Tompkins, Charles Boyle Tompkins Jr. and Elizabeth Shecut Tompkins and her two great-grandchildren; Daniel Cannon Tompkins and Lillian Sims Tompkins. To them she was their “Grandbear”.

A graveside memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 16, 2024 at 10 a.m. at Saint Peter’s Catholic Cemetery in Elmwood Cemetery, 501 Elmwood Ave, Columbia, SC 29201. The Rosary will be recited Friday, November 15, 2024 at 5:00 p.m., with visitation following until 7:00 p.m. at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Saint Joseph Catholic Church, 3600 Devine Street, Columbia, SC 29205.