Ravenel Marie Jeffcoat Rubenstein

Ravenel Jeffcoat Rubenstein, 96 years old, of Columbia, South Carolina, passed away on March 30, 2026. Born in Hartsville, South Carolina, September 29, 1929. She was the daughter of the late Abb Allen Jeffcoat and Ravenel Andrews Jeffcoat, of Columbia, South Carolina.

Ravenel graduated from Lower Richland High School and attended the University of South Carolina. After graduation, she became one of the youngest secretaries to serve U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond. By 1949, she married her high school sweetheart, the late Morris Bernard Rubenstein, a Citadel graduate and United States Air Force Colonel. During their many wonderful military assignments, they appreciated traveling the world. While Ravenel raised three accomplished children and took pride in their various achievements, she also always found time to be hospitable by volunteering, teaching Judaism at local schools, and serving the Red Cross for over 20 years. She never moved to a new Airbase without joining the Welcome Committee to warmly greet and assist families as they adjusted to their new communities. Additionally, Ravenel’s favorite hobbies included playing bridge and modeling the Spring clothing line for the Officers' Ladies Club.

After retiring from the Air Force, Morris and Ravenel settled in Columbia, where they started a condominium rental business, joined Temple Sinai in Orangeburg, South Carolina, and spent their leisure time on their houseboat at Lake Murray and on numerous family cruises.

Ravenel was preceded in death by her parents, Abb and Ravenel Jeffcoat; her brother, Abb Jeffcoat, Jr. of Columbia, S.C.; her devoted husband, Morris Bernard Rubenstein; and her beloved grandson, Robin Bryan Rubenstein of Florida.

Ravenel is survived by her three children: Dr. Loretta Rubenstein (and her spouse, Mitch Avent) of Newport News, Virginia, Alan Bruce Rubenstein (and his spouse, Debra Hudson Rubenstein) of Greenville, North Carolina; and Debbie Rubenstein Garcia (and her spouse, Ernest C. Garcia) of Austin, Texas; and two grandchildren: Kassi Avent, M.D. (and her spouse Kyle K. Payne) of New Brunswick, New Jersey and Dr. Brendan Alan Avent (of Los Angeles, California), and two great-grandchildren: Bowie Rubenstein and Dean Rubenstein (and their mother Simone de Kroon) of Los Angeles, California.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Heart Association, the Parkinson’s Foundation, or the Alzheimer’s Foundation.

Services will be held at the Fort Jackson National Cemetery, Columbia. Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, is assisting the family.