Puera "Betty" Higgins Gifford

COLUMBIA Puera “Betty” Higgins Gifford, 95, died peacefully at the Columbia Presbyterian Community’s Cassels Health Care Center on the morning of June 30, 2021. A graveside service will be held in Greenlawn Memorial Park, with Reverend Larry Bates officiating, at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 7, 2021. Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the family

Born March 1, 1926 in Burnsville, NC, Mrs. Gifford was the daughter of Ernest and Lizzie Higgins. She grew up on a farm with her four sisters, Edna, Agnes, Opal, and Erna. She graduated from Bald Creek High School in 1943 and attended one year of business courses before moving to Virginia in search of work along with her older sister, Agnes. She met her future husband, Glen Vestel Gifford, a career naval Master Chief, while employed as an office worker near the shipyards of Newport News. They were married on September 29, 1946 and then began their countrywide travels beginning in 1946 (Virginia, Arizona, Hawaii, California, Arizona) and concluding in 1959 with Glen being stationed as a naval recruiter in Columbia, SC.

During her marriage, Puera became a full-time homemaker and mother of two. Daughter Glenda was born in Arizona in 1952 and son Kenneth followed in 1956 in the US Territory of Hawaii. After her husband’s retirement from the Navy and subsequent employment with the U.S. Postal Service on Assembly Street in Columbia, SC, the Giffords finally built their long-awaited home in the country side between Columbia and Winnsboro. Among her many hobbies and past-times were bowling with her husband, working jigsaw puzzles, doing word finds, watching Jeopardy, and jewelry making.

Mrs. Gifford outlived her husband of 64 years, Glen V. Gifford, by ten years. Her father, mother, sisters, Edna, Agnes, Opal, and Erna, and son, Kenneth Wayne all predeceased her. She is survived by her daughter, Glenda Gifford Fedricci (husband Thomas); two grandsons, Michael and Christopher (wife Kristin); four great-granddaughters, Carolyn (22), Samantha (15), Michaela (13), and Emersyn (5); and one great-grandson, Everett (3).

The family expresses their sincere gratitude and appreciation to her caregivers over the years, Sibble Brooks (2009-2021) and Catherine Goodwine (2008-2016) for their outstanding dedication and excellent service and deep friendship. The family would also like to thank the staff, administrators, doctors, and nurses of The Columbia Presbyterian Community, Cassels Health Care, and Crescent Hospice for their excellent care and service to Mrs. Gifford during her time with them.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, 190 Knox Abbott Drive, # 301, Cayce, SC 29033.

Please sign the online guestbook at www.dunbarfunerals.com