Davy-Jo Stribling Ridge

Davy-Jo Stribling Ridge COLUMBIA - Davy-Jo Stribling Ridge of Columbia, SC, 83, daughter of the late David W. and Thelma Braselton Stribling of Walnut Hill Plantation, Westminster, SC, died Monday, May 11, after a long illness. Born January 16, 1932, Ms. Ridge was graduated from Westminster High School in 1950 as valedictorian. She attained a degree in English Literature from Queens College, Charlotte, NC, where she was a member of Sigma Mu scholastic society, served as President of Sigma Upsilon literary society and served as editor of The Blue Quill, the student literary and news publication. In 1955 Ms. Ridge attained a Master of Librarianship degree from Emory University. Ms. Ridge was Head Reference Librarian at the DeKalb County Regional Library before she joined the University of South Carolina library staff as a reference librarian at the McKissick Memorial Library. She served the University during the remainder of her long career, retiring as Associate Director of the USC Library System. As a highlight of her career, she assisted in the planning of and move into the new Thomas Cooper Library, and its staffing and daily operation until her retirement. Ms. Ridge edited user handbooks to the USC library collections as well as the catalog of The Rare Book Collection in the McKissick Memorial Library. She was the author of A Load of Gratitude: Audubon and South Carolina issued by USC on the bicentennial of John James Audubon's birth in 1985. She was a life member of the South Caroliniana Society, the Thomas Cooper Society and the South Carolina Library Association. She was a strong supporter of many local and national historic preservation, environmental and humane organizations and was listed in Who's Who in the South and in Who's Who of American Women. Ms. Ridge was known for her garden of roses, daylilies and daffodils and for her lifetime love of cats. She was also well known for her collection of Audubon and Gould bird prints, which she donated to South Carolina museums, and for a very large collection of cat-themed memorabilia. In early life Ms. Ridge was active in the Westminster Presbyterian Church and since 1981 was a member of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church in Columbia. Before her illness, she served on the St. Martin's Altar Guild and other church committees. She was a life-long student of the Bible and often lectured on Biblical personalities. In her retirement, Ms. Ridge served on the Board of the South Carolina State Retiree Association of which she was a charter member. She is survived by numerous Stribling and Braselton cousins. A graveside service at the Stribling family plot at Richland Presbyterian Church, 820 Poplar Springs Road, Westminster, will be held on Friday, May 15 at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the USC Educational Foundation for benefit of The Davy-Jo Ridge Library Fund, Thomas Cooper Library, USC, Columbia, SC 29208; Westminster Presbyterian Church, 204 N. Isundega St., Westminster, SC 29693; or to St. Martin's-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church, 5220 Clemson Ave., Columbia, SC 29206. Condolences may be expressed online by visiting www.sandiferfuneralhome.com SANDIFER FUNERAL HOME IS ASSISTING THE FAMILY