Mrs. Phyllis Fowke Laughridge

February 5, 1936 - December 22, 2020

Phyllis Jean Fowke Laughridge, of West Columbia, died Tuesday, December 22, 2020. She was born on February 5, 1936, in Aiken, South Carolina, to the late Laurie Cargill and Ruth Elizabeth Gillespie Fowke. She grew up in Barnwell County along with six sisters and two brothers whom she adored. At age sixteen, she moved to Columbia with her family following the death of her father. There, she graduated from Eau Claire High School and went on to graduate as a registered nurse from Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing in Charlotte, North Carolina. While home in Columbia for the holidays, she met the love of her life, Richard Thomas Laughridge, at a college ministry Christmas party in Jackson Hall at First Presbyterian Church. They were married for 62 years. Together they had 4 children, Laurie Ruth Laughridge Wilson (Tom), Richard Thomas Laughridge, Jr. (Karen), Philip Fowke Laughridge (Junie), Stephen Pursley Laughridge (Pressly Ann); 14 grandchildren, Evan Kay Wilson (Erin), Andrew Thomas Wilson (Ashley), Laurie Beth Wilson Blanton (Hugh), Anna Christine Laughridge Wolf (Drew), Rebekah Ruth Laughridge, Elizabeth Jean Laughridge, Katherine Faith Laughridge, Emily June Laughridge, Zachary Philip Laughridge, Thomas Clyde Laughridge, John Warren Laughridge, Sarah Grace Wilson Laughridge, Elizabeth Ruth Laughridge, Joel Richard Laughridge; and 15 great-grandchildren. Phyllis was lovingly devoted to her family, and, most especially to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She kept a prayer diary and prayed regularly and fervently for her beloved family and friends as well as others. In addition to being a loving wife and mother, she expressed her gifts of mercy in various ways through volunteer work with the South Carolina Commission for the Blind, The American Cancer Society’s Road to Recovery, The Carolina Children’s Home, and medical missions trips to Ecuador and Mexico. She enjoyed serving as a church camp nurse in the summer weeks her children attended and she loved telling stories of her earlier days as a surgical nurse at Providence Hospital. She treasured her church family members at Covenant Presbyterian Church and later at First Presbyterian Church. She had a deep appreciation for the beauty of nature, classical music, a good book, a good conversation, and especially a good laugh. In January 2020, her health began to decline, and she verbalized her prayer as “Thy will, and not mine, be done.” She also held fast to 1 Corinthians 2:9, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” And love Him, she did. Her beautiful soul is now at rest in Him, and her family rises to call her blessed and to give God praise for her life of 84 years. The service for Mrs. Laughridge will be held 2 o'clock, Saturday, January 9, 2021, at First Presbyterian Church, with The Rev. David H. Lauten officiating. The family will greet friends following the service in Jackson Hall. All are welcome to attend, however, masks will be required and social distancing guidelines will be in place. A livestream of the service will be available on Mrs. Laughridge's Tribute Wall by visiting ShivesFuneralHome.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church and the Richard T. Laughridge Endowment USC School of Journalism.