Avia Dyson Skipper, 89, of Columbia, died Tuesday, December 1, 2020. Born in Richland County, SC, on January 22, 1931, she was a daughter of the late Willie Huggins and Eva Marie Sorgee Dyson. Avia spent her career working in retail for JC Penny.

Survivors include her sons, John S. Skipper, Jr. (Judy) and Stephen T. Skipper (Karin); daughter, Jane Skipper; grandson, John Chandler Skipper, Justin Mosley, Bryan Mosley, Brandon Mosley, Jeremy Mosley; 14 great-grandchildren; and brother, Raymond Gerald Dyson. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, John "Johnny" S. Skipper, Sr.; sister, Marie Dyson Chandler; and brother, W. Edward Dyson.

The service for Mrs. Skipper will be held 3 o'clock, Saturday, December 5th, at Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, 7600 Trenholm Road Ext., Columbia. Burial in Fort Jackson National Cemetery will be private. The family will receive friends following the service at the funeral home. For those unable to attend the service, a livestream will be available by visiting her tribute wall at ShivesFuneralHome.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Heart of Hospice, Heart of Hospice Foundation, 134 Columbus Street, Charleston SC 29403; or to the American Cancer Society, 200 Center Point Cir Suite 100, Columbia, SC 29210.