Ms. Kathryn T. Eldridge

On June 27th, Kathryn Tilley Eldridge, 86, ascended peacefully into the arms of Jesus and was reunited in heaven with her beloved mother, Lou Etta Collins Tilley; father, Grover Cleveland Tilley; and sisters, Stella Mae Smith and Hazel Marie Nunn who predeceased her. Kathryn was born and raised in Mt. Airy, NC, where she was a member of Central United Methodist Church. She attended Women's College in Greensboro, NC. Kathryn successfully raised two daughters on her own while working full-time at Weaver Management Company. In 1990, she became the first woman in the company to be promoted to Vice President of Property Management. After 25 years of service, Kathryn retired in 1998. Her lifelong dream was to own a home at the beach, and she fulfilled it when she purchased a house on Topsail Island in 1987. She enjoyed spending weekends there until she retired and moved there in 1998. For nearly 20 years, she walked on the beach, admired the ocean, and ran around the island shopping and socializing with her neighbors in Surf City, NC. She was known for spoiling her beloved kitties, counting pelicans that flew by while she was on the beach, sitting on her swing under the carport, spending quality time with her beautiful granddaughter, and talking on the phone for hours with her family and friends. The family would like to thank the dedicated nurses, CNA's and staff at Sinclair Hogue in the Davis Community in Wilmington, NC, who provided around the clock care after she was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2017. We would also like to thank Lower Cape Fear Hospice. She is survived by daughter, Cheryl E. Aycock of Columbia, SC; daughter, Karen E. Russell of Columbia, SC; granddaughter, Nicole E. Seagle (Cody) of Columbia, SC; sister, Annie Kay of Alpharetta, GA; and brother, A. Wayne Tilley of East Lansing, MI. Kathryn's wish was to be cremated. A service of remembrance will be held at Shives Funeral Home, 7600 Trenholm Road Ext., Columbia, SC, on Saturday, July 13th at 1 o’clock in the afternoon. The family will receive friends after the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Surf City Pet Hospital located at 13775 NC Hwy 50 #503, Surf City, NC 28445.

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Ms. Kathryn T. Eldridge

June 13, 1933 - June 27, 2019