Katherine "Kathey" Barnett O'Connor, 78, died Friday, November 16th, in Brunswick, GA. Mrs. O'Connor was a long-time resident of Mt. Pleasant, SC. After retiring from Blackbaud, she spent her time as a turtle lady as part of the Isle of Palms Turtle Team, an avid tennis player as a member of Snee Farm Country Club, an enthusiastic diner with the flamingo girls, and a member of Christ Church. After being diagnosed with dementia, Mrs. O'Connor moved to Brunswick, GA. Following a five-year decline in her physical and mental faculties, her death was unexpected but peaceful. Her family is eternally grateful to the staff of Gracemore Skilled Nursing and Hospice of the Golden Isles for their generous and untiring care. Mrs. O'Connor was born in Atlanta, GA, a daughter of the late Dr. Crawford F. Barnett and Penelope Brown Barnett. She attended Northside High School in Atlanta and was a graduate of Vanderbilt University, where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority. She was preceded in death by her husband, Laurence T. O'Connor. Mrs. O'Connor was extremely proud of her children and through them, she counted her eleven "grands" as her greatest gifts and the most important of her children's many accomplishments.

Survivors include her son, Tom O'Connor, MD (Stephanie) and his children, Sarah O'Connor, Fiona O'Connor, Colin O'Connor, and Kyle O'Connor, Eden Prairie, MN, Kaitlin O'Connor-Zeman (Zack), Las Vegas, NV, Thomas O'Connor, Duluth, MN, and Alexander O'Connor, Washington, DC; her son, Rick O'Connor (Missy) and his children, Rence O'Connor and Chavis O'Connor, Columbia, SC; and her daughter, Katherine Henderson (Mike) and her children, William Henderson and Connor Henderson, Brunswick, GA. Her family greatly appreciates the thoughts and prayers so many have already expressed. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60601.

Her memorial service will be 4 o'clock, Saturday, December 8th, at Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, 7600 Trenholm Road Ext., Columbia. The family will receive friends prior to the service beginning at 3 o'clock.