Carol Anne Christianson Best of Columbia, died Thursday, January 26, 2017. Born December 12, 1937 in Oak Park, Illinois, she was a daughter of the late J. Russell and Gladys Rogers Christianson. Russ Christianson was a former president of the Village of Oak Park and general counsel of the Chicago Bar Association.

Ms. Best graduated from Oak Park High School in 1955 and began college at Miami of Ohio in the fall of 1955. At a wedding in the summer of 1957 she met Mr. Thilo H. Best ("T"). The two were married June 21, 1958. After their wedding, they moved to New York City where T began a career with Cargill, Inc.

Carol finished her college degree at NYU, graduating with honors in 1959. In 1961, the Best's moved to Lancaster, PA, and then to Chattanooga, TN in 1968. While in Chattanooga, Carol raised her children, played tennis and was involved with the Junior League. She moved to Columbia, SC in 2000 to be close to her daughter. Carol was an intelligent woman with a generous spirit and beautiful smile. She was a loving mom who cherished her children and grandchildren more than anything.

Along with her parents, Carol was preceded in death by a brother, Russell Christianson. She is survived by her son, Thilo David Best and his wife, Betsy, and their children, Elizabeth S. and Meredith A. Best; and daughter, Diana B. Ayers, her husband, Lee, and their children, Clifton Ayers, Jacob Ayers, and his wife, Elizabeth, and Garrett Ayers; as well as a sister, Lois Giess, and her husband, John; brother, Don Christianson, along with several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service for Carol will be held Saturday, February 4 at 10 o'clock in the morning in the Keenan Chapel at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral with The Very Rev. Timothy Jones and The Rev. Susan Heath officiating. The family will greet friends immediately following the service. Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, is assisting the family.

The family would like to extend a big thank you to the staff and nurses at White Oak Manor, who loved and took such good care of Carol. As well as a special thanks to the 11th floor nurses at Palmetto Health Richland for their tender care of Carol; also to R. Caughman Taylor for his love and counsel to the family.

Memorials may be made to The Churchyard Fund at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 1100 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29201 or to One Mind Institute: www.onemindinstitute.org/get-involved/donate .