Elizabeth Thompson Todd passed away on May 28 in Baptist Medical Center South, in Jacksonville, Florida at age 56 after a short illness. Elizabeth lived in Tampa, Florida and North Topsail Island, NC where as she welcomed and entertained family and friends for many years.
Elizabeth was born Carol Elizabeth Thompson on November 20, 1961 in Greenville, SC to Mary “Penny” Sapp Thompson and the late William Carlton Thompson. Elizabeth is survived by her husband Keith, daughter Kara Todd Reid, Kara’s husband Graham of Alexandria, Virginia, her mother Penny, of Fearrington, NC, her brother Richard, wife Tanya and their daughter Abigail of Jacksonville, Florida.
Elizabeth was a natural born swimmer who started competing at age six and would continue her love of swimming by teaching swimming lessons to young children and coaching swim teams throughout her life. She was a 1980 graduate of Lancaster High School in Lancaster, SC where she was a member of the varsity tennis team. She followed in her father’s footsteps by attending Clemson University where she was a member of Delta Gamma sorority and Central Spirit; she never missed a football game including the 1981 National Championship Game. She graduated from Clemson in 1984 with a degree in Elementary Education. She inspired countless lives over her teaching career as a tireless advocate for children, especially those with learning disabilities. Elizabeth volunteered delivering Meals on Wheels, leading docent tours for children in Portland and tutoring children in many of the communities where she and Keith resided.
Elizabeth will be remembered for her energy, enthusiasm and zest for life; her laughter was infectious, and she always placed others’ well-being above her own. Elizabeth was a beautiful person from the inside out. Her legacy will be her kindness, love and respect she had for all people.
A Celebration of Life for all family and friends will be held on June 23 at 2:00 pm at the Carolina Club, 150 Stadium Drive, on the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill, in Chapel Hill, NC. Memorials may be made to the Elizabeth Thompson Todd Scholarship, Clemson University, 110 Daniel Drive, Clemson, SC 29631 or the Elizabeth Thompson Todd Scholarship, University of Tampa, Office of Development, 401 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, FL 33606.
