Patsy S. Stone

Patsy S.

Stone

FLORENCE – Patsy Schnibben Stone, a lifelong resident of Florence, died Thursday, January 5, 2023, after a brief illness.

Born in Florence, she was the daughter of the late John H. and Grace R. Schnibben. She was a graduate of McClenaghan High School and earned degrees in History and English from Francis Marion University in 1977. She was elected to serve eight terms as Florence County Probate Court Judge and served from 1970 until her retirement in 2000. She was the first woman to be elected to a county-wide Court House office in the history of Florence County. She was a member and past president of the S.C. Probate Judges Association. Judge Stone was regarded by many as one of the most competent and respected probate judges in South Carolina.

Judge Stone was a lifelong democrat and was appointed by President Jimmy Carter to the Board of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. She was a long-standing supporter and active participant of the Florence Little Theatre and served as the president of its Board of Directors. She also directed many productions at the Little Theatre.

Judge Stone was a member of St. Luke Lutheran Church. She loved flowers and loved her friends and fellow members of the Magnolia Supper Club.

She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Dr. Neal D. Thigpen, of the home; her daughter, Grace Poston Irons of Florence, SC; a son, John David Poston, of Beaufort, SC; a granddaughter, Emma Furbee, and great-grandson, Luke Daniel Furbee, both of Burlington, NC.

The family will hold a private graveside service at Mount Hope Cemetery. The family respectfully requests no visitors at the home at this time.

In lieu of flowers, memorials would be appreciated to the Florence Area Humane Society, P. O. Box 4808, Florence, SC 29502.

Waters-Powell Funeral Home is assisting the family of Judge Stone.