Gale Rigby Kennedy

Gale Rigby Kennedy COLUMBIA - Memorial service for Gale Rigby Kennedy, 66, will be held at 3:00 p.m. Monday, July 15, 2013, at Eastminster Presbyterian Church. A private burial service will follow. Visitation with the family will be held Sunday, July 14, 2013, from 2-4 p.m. in Thompson Hall at Eastminster Presbyterian Church. Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the family. Gale passed away on July 10, 2013, after a courageous seven year battle with cancer. Daughter of the late Robert Richard Rigby, Junior and Jeannette Bagnal Rigby of Columbia, she was the granddaughter of Mallard and Jessie Bagnal of Columbia and Dr. Robert "Doc" and Lillian Rigby of St. George. She is survived by son, Mallard Jackson "Jay" Philips; daughter-in-law, Sunny; and granddaughters, Rigby, Maddy, Nettie and Sarah Lil, all of Columbia. She is also survived by a brother, Michael Leslie Rigby of Blythewood. She was predeceased by a brother, Robert Richard Rigby III. A lifelong resident of Columbia, Gale graduated from Dreher High School and earned a bachelor's degree from Columbia College and a Master's of Education at the University of South Carolina. Gale spent her first years in the workforce as a fifth grade teacher at Hammond Academy. She left Hammond to become a mom. A few years later, she proudly served her alma mater in the alumnae office at Columbia College. In the mid-seventies, she moved to the South Carolina Bankers' Association where she worked in member services. Gale's later career centered around the South Carolina Legislature, where she held various positions for over fifteen years. She was especially honored to serve on the staffs of Representative Pat Harris, Representative Dave McGinnis and more recently, Senator Greg Ryberg. Always known for her great love of cooking and entertaining and as a lady who knew how to throw a great party, her State House career was voluntarily interrupted during the 80s while she pursued this passion professionally. She operated the widely successful catering company, Catering to Columbia, which later expanded to Myrtle Beach when she opened Your Cook at the Coast and the Caribbean Cafe. This love of food and entertaining also inspired her to write a cookbook, aptly titled 'Catering to Columbia,' which was sold coast to coast. After welcoming grandchildren (with whom she joyfully shared her love of cooking), she revamped the original cookbook, adding kid friendly recipes and healthy fare, and presented 'Still Catering to Columbia' to an eager audience. Gale's faith was an important part of her life. She grew up at First Baptist Church in Columbia and became a member of Eastminster Presbyterian Church in 1976. Her church family was a strong source of inspiration to her. Despite enduring symptoms with her own illness, she remained a part of Eastminster's Care Team, which cooks and delivers meals to sick, elderly and shut-in church members, until just a few months before her death. An avid Gamecocks fan, she adored Coach Frank McGuire's basketball teams and especially enjoyed following Coach Ray Tanner's College World Series championship baseball teams and tailgating before football games at Williams-Brice. She was also active at her grandchildren's sporting events and activities, rooting enthusiastically at everything from 4-year-old soccer games to ballet recitals to cross country meets. She was especially happy that her granddaughters inherited her love of playing the piano. She would gladly listen to the same song being played over and over, clapping at the end each time as if it was the first time she heard it. Gale always had a fondness for the beaches along South Carolina's coast. After retiring, her time spent there continued to grow as the sea breezes and surf brought her solace and quiet time for reflection. Her warm and endearing personality ensured she never met a stranger. No matter a person's circumstance, she treated everyone with genuine love and respect. This larger than life personality endured through the end, as evidenced by the huge number of friends she remained in touch with through her final days. She was sustained by her faith and her oft repeated mantra of "I may have cancer but it doesn't have me." The family would like to thank the staff of Atria Forest Lake and United Hospice for their loving care and support. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in her memory to Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 3200 Trenholm Road, Columbia, SC 29204. Please sign the online guestbook at www.dunbarfunerals.com.